What Is The Development Plan?

Development plan, a comprehensive map and set of rules prepared to ensure the orderly and planned development of cities, towns, and villages; determining where construction, transportation, green spaces, industry, education, and other living areas will be located.

Thanks to the development plan, it is legally guaranteed in advance how a settlement will grow, where houses will be built, and which areas will be parks, roads, or school areas.

Purposes of the Development Plan

  • To make the settlement areas regular and sustainable,

  • To prevent irregular urbanization and illegal construction,

  • To plan transportation, green spaces, and social facilities according to needs in advance,

  • To direct infrastructure investments correctly,

  • To create a modern and livable urban order by considering public benefit.

Types of Development Plans

1. Master Development Plan

  • It is the basis of general city planning.

  • It is usually prepared at the district or provincial level.

  • It shows the general usage balances such as transportation, housing, industry, trade, and green spaces.

  • It is on a 1/5,000 scale.

2. Implementation Development Plan

  • It is a detailed and directly applicable plan.

  • It clearly determines the construction conditions at the parcel level (building height, number of floors, distance, etc.).

  • It is on a 1/1,000 scale.

  • It is the basic official document that everyone who wants to build or obtain a permit must comply with.

What is Included in the Development Plan?

  • Functional usage areas such as housing, trade, industry, education, and health

  • Parks, children's playgrounds, and green fields

  • Main and secondary road routes

  • Building height, construction density, and distance conditions

  • Infrastructure and energy line planning

Who Prepares the Development Plan?

Development plans are prepared by expert teams consisting of city planners, mapping engineers, architects, and construction engineers within the municipalities or authorized public institutions. The prepared plans are approved by the relevant council decision, gain legal validity, and come into force.

What Happens Without a Development Plan?

  • Unplanned construction (shantytown) increases rapidly.

  • Transportation, infrastructure, and social facilities are insufficient to meet the needs of the region.

  • Natural areas and agricultural lands are damaged.

  • Cities become irregular, insecure, and difficult to live in.

Conclusion

Development plans are of vital importance for the present and future of cities. For both individuals and real estate investors, it is essential to examine the development plan in detail when buying a plot, land, or house, or when starting the construction process, in order to take a legal and safe step.