Türkiye is accelerating efforts to renew aging housing stock, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan describing urban transformation as the “only solution” to address both earthquake risks and rising housing demand, particularly in Istanbul.
Speaking at a mass housing lottery ceremony, Erdoğan said strengthening building safety is essential in a city widely considered at high risk of a major earthquake.
“There is no alternative to urban transformation,” he said, urging residents to support redevelopment efforts aimed at making Istanbul more resilient.
Large-scale housing push
The ceremony marked the allocation of 100,000 homes in Istanbul under a broader nationwide programme targeting 500,000 housing units, primarily for low- and middle-income families.
Officials say the initiative is designed to address affordability challenges while ensuring new buildings comply with stricter earthquake-resistant standards.
The government has already overseen the construction of more than 1.7 million social housing units and carried out large-scale renewal projects, including the redevelopment of hundreds of thousands of units in Istanbul.
Safety and affordability priorities
Authorities said the newly allocated homes will be offered through long-term payment plans to make ownership accessible, with construction expected to accelerate following the lottery process.
The push for urban transformation has gained urgency since the devastating earthquakes in southern Türkiye in 2023, which renewed scrutiny over the safety of older buildings across major cities.
Political dimension
Erdoğan also criticised opposition parties for what he described as insufficient support for housing and infrastructure initiatives, highlighting political divisions over the scale and implementation of urban transformation policies.
Analysts say the programme reflects both a response to structural housing challenges and a broader effort to reduce disaster risks in one of Europe’s most densely populated metropolitan areas.