Turkey’s Council of State suspends hotel construction in Cappadocia, warns of damage to nature

NEVŞEHİR

The Central Anatolian province of Nevşehir is famous for its unique fairy chimneys. HÜRRİYET Photo

Turkey’s Council of State issued on June 16 a stay of execution for the construction of a hotel in Cappadocia, on the grounds that it would damage the natural landscape, news website Bianet has reported.

The ruling said that the hotel’s plans in Üçhisar, which is located in the Central Anatolian province of Nevşehir famous for its unique fairy chimneys along with other geological characteristics, was not compatible with the region’s traditional architecture. It also stressed that the heavy concrete structure foreseen in the plans could seriously damage the surrounding environment.

A complaint was filed for the suspension of the project by the Turkish Union of Engineers and Architects Chambers (TMMOB) Ankara Office last year after the Culture and Natural Heritage Protection Board in Nevşehir gave the green light for construction to begin.

The Kayseri 2nd Administrative Court rejected the suspension of the construction, leading the TMMOB to file an appeal to the Council of State.

The TMMOB’s Ankara branch head, Tezcan Karakuş Candan, hailed the ruling for potential trends in similar trials.

“While Protection Boards should act scientifically regarding our cultural assets, they take decisions that lead to the damage of the natural landscape. That is why the Protection Boards and their members become contestable,” Candan said.

All members of Nevşehir’s Culture and Natural Heritage Protection Board were reassigned after approving the construction of the hotel in Üçhisar.