Istanbul’s Renewal Plan Aims to Resettle 1.5 Million Residents Over Five Years
Türkiye is moving forward with a major renewal program designed to relocate approximately one and a half million residents from Istanbul into safer housing within the next five years. The plan, outlined by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, frames the effort as a decisive step toward reducing risk in areas with aging or unsafe buildings. It reflects a broad strategy to strengthen the city’s resilience in the face of seismic threats and to modernize its housing stock for the long term.
Estimates show that Istanbul hosts around 7.5 million buildings, with roughly 6 million designated as residences. Among these, about 600 thousand structures have been identified as needing renewal or reinforcement to meet current safety standards. The stated objective is clear: relocate residents from 1.5 million unsafe homes within five years, then redevelop these sites with earthquake-resistant housing and upgraded infrastructure. These figures come as part of a broader conversation about how urban cores can adapt to high seismic risk and growing population pressures. [Attribution: Official government briefing]
The renewed housing initiative accompanies broader discussions about building resilience in Turkey after a string of powerful earthquakes earlier in the decade. The focus centers on constructing new, safer dwellings and retrofitting vulnerable buildings to withstand future seismic events. The country has already faced substantial impacts from past earthquakes, underscoring the urgency of modernizing housing stock and improving emergency planning. [Attribution: National disaster response analyses]
Disaster response authorities emphasize that ongoing aftershocks remain possible and that continued monitoring is essential. The renewal program is framed as part of a long-term plan to minimize disruption for residents while expanding safe, sustainable housing options. The effort includes not only new construction but also improvements in infrastructure, utilities, and community services to support relocated families in safer neighborhoods. [Attribution: Urban resilience assessments]
Looking ahead, planners stress the importance of transparent implementation, equitable displacement measures, and robust safety standards. The goal is to balance rapid relocation with thoughtful development that preserves neighborhood character and ensures access to schools, healthcare, and employment opportunities for those affected. The overarching aim is to create a more resilient urban environment capable of withstanding future seismic events and benefiting the broader metropolitan region. [Attribution: City planning documents]