Law change saves Turkish construction projects
Published on 22/01/2015
Several major construction schemes in Turkey have been under threat recently, as they were found to have been in violation of Turkish law. However, rather than cancel the schemes - a move that could have had severe negative effects on the nation's economy and employment rate - several amendments have been made to ensure the schemes can continue.
The move is not without controversy. Some Turkish citizens have harshly criticised the buildings, saying that they are unattractive or unnecessary. However, for the Turkish construction industry this is decidedly good news.
The projects were at serious risk of being shut down entirely; a move that has caused plenty of conflict in the region. This could have potentially cost a lot of construction workers their jobs, which in turn would potentially harm Turkey's overall economy. Thankfully, this is no longer going to be the case.
The amendments
The amendments that saved these major construction schemes have been made to Article 29 of Zoning Law No. 3194. This law effectively puts a time limit on construction permits, with projects needing to be started within two years and completed within five after being granted one. Should a project run over this time limit, the developer will have to reapply.
This prevents land from being taken up by schemes that get tied up in delays and are left incomplete. However, it also puts a restriction on buildings that are modified midway through construction, with additions made that alter what was laid out in their original development plans.
The new amendments protect these projects that vary from their original development plans. This will allow any additions that are made to schemes mid-way through construction to be reconsidered and incorporated as part of the original project. It is this that has saved several buildings in Turkey from having to be postponed or even demolished.
The saved buildings
These amendments have allowed a number of massive schemes to continue when they would otherwise face legal challenges. Among these is the Ak Saray presidential palace. This vast construction will have 1,000 rooms once completed, and will be used as a home for Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The palace is built on a state-owned forest, and its construction costs are currently in the hundreds of millions. While it might seem like an excessive project, it is keeping thousands of people employed in the region.
Another at-risk scheme is the Zeytinburnu 16:9 project. This will involve the construction of two high-rise towers, reaching a height of around 85m. The towers have also provoked controversy, with some saying they obscure the Istanbul skyline, and a court ruling decreed that the height of Zeytinburnu 16:9 be reduced by 45 meters.
However, the amendments have saved this scheme as well. Now, the towers will be constructed to the height that the developer, Mesut Toprak, intends. The aim is to have Zeytinburnu 16:9 become a major part of the Istanbul skyline.