LAND PLOTS VALUATION IN LAND CONSOLIDATION IN SLOVAKIA: A NEED FOR A NEW APPROACH

Abstract

The spatial and functional rearrangement of a territory in the process of land consolidation (LC) requires the prior valuation of the land and comparison with the proposed state. This is one of the most difficult stages of the project. The official (information) price of agricultural land is at present determined on the basis of comparing the boundaries of land areas and spatial distribution of the soil-quality ecological units (SQEU). This procedure does not reflect the real value of land and leads to disagreements particularly with large differences in price levels in the neighborhood. Therefore, the authors suggest establishing pricing information using a multicriteria evaluation, into which enters SQEU (through a single price area for the projection unit) as well as the development factor and location factor. The methodological approaches and procedures for land valuation on agricultural land in the LC are illustrated by the example of the cadastral area of Skačany (in northwestern Slovakia). The authors argue that a new approach is more objective to the owners and simplifies the entire process in compliance with the criteria of proportionality.