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The Serbian legislative body has passed legislation that sets the stage for a disputed real estate initiative spearheaded by former President Trump's family member Jared Kushner in Serbia's capital city.

His firm Affinity Partners has sought to develop a high-end hotel and residential complex on the premises of the former Yugoslav Army main office.

The ruined edifice, which was targeted by Nato forces in 1999 amid its operation to end Serbia's military campaign in Kosovo, holds significant meaning to many who consider it as a memorial and symbol of persistent resistance to the military alliance.

The Serbian Head of State Aleksandar Vucic, who has sought friendly connections with the former president, has supported the development despite protests and legal challenges.

In the past year, the Serbian administration stripped the building of its conservation classification and agreed a 99-year lease with the developer's firm, which had presented designs for a $500m construction.

The decision triggered demonstrations and led to an investigation into whether a national official had falsified papers utilized throughout the method to change the structure's classification.

During a conversation recently, President Aleksandar Vucic supported the initiative, stating "it's essential to transcend the legacy from 1999".

He elaborated: "We are willing to establish better connections with the United States – I consider that is terribly significant for this country."

The halted development process came to a head on Friday when Vucic's political group – which holds a majority in parliament – pushed ahead with a specific ballot on preparing the site and won.

Opposition politicians have labelled the outcome against the constitution, among them Aleksandar Jovanovic, who described it as a "violation", and declared the historic site would be replaced with "gaming establishments and hot tubs".

Simultaneously, centre-left MP Marinika Tepic remarked the government was compromising the state's heritage "to please Trump".

The passage of the bill has furthermore been challenged by design professionals, and arrives following Transparency Serbia, an integrity body, raised concerns about publicly-endorsed developments.

According to national media accounts before his maiden presidency bid, Trump earlier explored constructing a hotel in Belgrade.

Last March, Kushner stated media outlets he was not aware of his father-in-law's alleged past consideration.

The decision to enable progress for the construction occurs as the president's administration attempts to preserve positive relations with both Washington and Russia.

Serbia has been affected by each of Trump's trade measures and sanctions on the Russian Federation's assets in the nation, including on its only fuel processing plant, the majority Russian-owned Nafna Industrika Srbije (NIS).