Urban regeneration is a matter of considerable importance in Turkey, particularly given that much of the country sits within an active earthquake zone. The Ministry of Environment and Urbanisation has established dedicated teams to review and manage these cases.
This is not a subject that concerns contractors alone; it is, above all, a matter of vital importance for residents and property owners. Many people have limited knowledge of how the process works, and a significant number hold inaccurate information. The Ministry is actively working to address this misinformation and improve public awareness.
Urban regeneration enables people to move out of ageing buildings that are approaching the end of their useful life and into earthquake-resistant structures where they can live safely. So how does the process work?
As a starting point, regardless of a building's age, any structure that existed before the 1999 earthquake will have been subjected to significant seismic stress, and even if it did not collapse, it is likely to have sustained damage. With more than twenty-four years having passed since then, residents of such buildings would be well advised to take this matter very seriously indeed. Those residents, along with anyone who has doubts about the structural integrity of their building even if it was constructed after 1999, can engage with specialist firms once they have agreed terms with a contractor. A structural engineer from the firm will visit the property alongside a laboratory technician to carry out an inspection.
Where original drawings of the building exist, these will be used. Where they do not, samples are taken using appropriate measurement and testing techniques to determine the properties of materials such as concrete and steel reinforcement. This data is then entered into specialist software to carry out a seismic resilience analysis. If the building is found to be at risk, a report is produced alongside the structural analysis results and submitted to the Ministry.
Where the Ministry confirms that a building is classified as high-risk, both the contractor and the property owners become eligible for a range of significant benefits. These are as follows.
- The right to live in a newly built, earthquake-resistant structure in safety.
- Rental assistance to cover accommodation costs during the construction period.
- A contribution towards demolition costs.
- Exemption from certain taxes and fees.
- Access to government-backed loan support.
These benefits are of real value to both contractors and property owners alike, and we strongly encourage anyone in this situation to explore urban regeneration as a route to safer, more secure living, particularly in areas of elevated seismic risk.