The article deals with the issue of providing means of urban planning for sustainable development of the territory of Shuist residential area in Penza. The analysis of the functional planning structure is taken into account, determining the main directions of spatial development and reconstructive measures in order to transform the spatial organization of the urban area, which ensures its comprehensive development and sustainable functioning in the city system. The tasks of the territories comprehensive development are aimed at a qualitative transformation of the urban environment, based on its functional, transport, ecological, landscape and spatial characteristics. Jointly they form a complex, interconnected system. The goal of sustainability is to maintain the positive effects of the measures taken to develop the territories. The relevance of the study topic is dictated by the necessity to transform and update previously formed planning structure, identify additional urban planning resources and activate functional processes for sustainable development of the main subsystems of the researched area and in accordance with modern requirements for urban space organization. During the research, the previously developed urban planning documentation is studied. It includes the general plans of Penza of different periods, the detailed planning project for Shuist residential area. Authors have analyzed the use intensity of the studied and adjacent territories, their mutual influence, transport and pedestrian framework that has developed in them, the social service of the territory, influence of natural landscape and environmental characteristics, which have major importance for making design decisions for the further development of the urban space. The features and potential urban resources of the studied area have been identified, recommendations are given for reorganization of the main elements of the city's planning structure in order to increase its social efficiency.