Environment Ministry to have final say in construction plans

Gülistan Alagöz - ANKARA

With the new regulation, the ministry aims to have the final say over any changes in construction plans of the green and social areas in the cities with the new regulation.

Local construction projects will need approval by the Environment and Urbanization Ministry rather than municipalities and public opinion will also be taken by polls, according to a new regulation issued in the Official Gazette.

The new regulation has brought about new changes to the rules of construction in cities and was released by the ministry on June 14.

With the new regulation, all changes in construction plans will require the approval of the Environment and Urbanization Ministry and municipality decisions to make changes will not be sufficient on their own. Regional plans will replace spatial strategic plans and changes to approved construction plans will not be possible unless compulsory.

With the changes, the ministry apparently aims to have the final say over any changes in construction plans in green and social areas in cities. Municipalities will still have the authority to draw up construction plans, but all plans will be inspected by the ministry.

The head lawyer of the Real Estate Law Association, Ali Güvenç Kiraz, said the new regulation aimed to protect cityscapes. Any construction changes that increase the height of the buildings will be approved on the condition the increase does not change the cityscape, Kiraz said.

In addition, shopping malls and industrial locations will have to be located outside of the city, while in touristic places it will be compulsory to allocate specific areas for parking lots and social infrastructure for seasonal times, according to the new regulation.