The construction boom and environmental protection in Northern Cyprus as a consequence of the Annan Plan

Abstract

The Annan peace plan has led to a major construction boom in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), in large part driven by speculative demand for real estate. A macroeconomic framework has been used to analyse the principal causes and impacts of the construction sector on the TRNC economy, particularly in terms of income and employment. Given that the TRNC possesses a unique and rare ecosystem in the Eastern Mediterranean, special attention is given to environmental impacts of the current construction boom, highlighting environmental costs and deficiencies in land zoning regulations. Environmental pollution as a result of rapid construction and unplanned urbanisation are also discussed and there is urgent need for rigorous environmental legislation, especially at local government level.Annan Plan, construction boom, economy, environmental ethics,

Perception and Challenges for Sustainable Construction in Developing Countries: North Cyprus Case

“…Additionally, political situation due to the Cyprus problem has always had a negative influence on development and acted as a stalemating factor for keeping up with changes. However, at present time, there is a large scale construction activity going on in North Cyprus, both in terms of infrastructure and superstructure [18]. According to a director of a contracting firm (interview), construction technology used in North Cyprus is recently starting to renew itself.…”

The negative effects of construction boom on urban planning and environment in Turkey: Unraveling the role of the public sector

“…Bon, 1992;Dang & Low, 2011;Lewis, 2004;Su et al, 2003;Yorucu & Keles, 2007). The construction sector is regarded as one of the leading sectors, which can stimulate economic growth due to its strong backward and forward linkages with other sectors (Dang & Low, 2011;Lewis, 2004;Su et al, 2003).…”

“…Overexpansion of construction activity affects macroeconomic stability by generating inflationary pressures and wasting resources (Dang & Low, 2011: 121). Furthermore, booming construction activity can have negative spatial and environmental impacts, like overproduction of urban built stock (Feagin, 1987) and intensification of environmental deterioration through pollution, urban sprawl and destruction of vegetation (Yorucu & Keles, 2007;Zainul Abidin, 2010).…”

Adoption of Energy Design Strategies for Retrofitting Mass Housing Estates in Northern Cyprus

“…Recent studies indicate that the evolution of mass housing estates after the property boom in the T.R.N.C. brought massive changes in construction strategy, which now responds less favourably to occupants' requirements and also their current social and economic aspects [12][13][14][15]. To reverse the above man-made problems, an improvement in the physical quality of building stock is directly related to demands such as a reduction in energy consumption and thus reduction in carbon dioxide emissions [16].…”