BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 10. President Shavkat
Mirziyoyev has reviewed a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at
modernizing Uzbekistan’s urban planning and construction
sectors.
This was reflected in a statement by the press service of the
Uzbek President.
According to information, more than 50% of Uzbekistan’s
population now lives in urban areas, with that share expected to
continue rising in the coming years. The government says growing
population pressures and accelerating construction activity require
more effective urban planning, better infrastructure coordination,
environmental protection, and preservation of historical and
cultural heritage sites.
Currently, only 2,506 of Uzbekistan’s 8,604 settlements, or
about 29%, are covered by approved master plans. Authorities plan
to develop master plans for an additional 154 settlements in 2026
and 144 more in 2027. More than 1,000 existing plans have already
been digitized.
The administration acknowledged that while 275 development
master plans were prepared during 2024–2025, many remain
disconnected from broader urban planning frameworks, creating
challenges in coordinating transportation, utilities, social
infrastructure, and land use.
To address these issues, the government proposed a new system
for managing urban planning documents. The initiative includes
collecting and updating planning data, digitizing records,
introducing monitoring mechanisms, and creating an integrated
information and analytical platform.
A unified electronic registry of urban planning documentation
will be established, and documents not registered in the system
will have no legal validity. The Urbanization Center will receive
expanded responsibilities, including management of a national
geospatial information system and coordination of surveying and
planning activities.
The government also outlined plans to strengthen workforce
development in urban planning, geodesy, cadastral management, and
geographic information systems.
Under the proposal, the Tashkent College of Geodesy and
Cartography will be reorganized into the College of Urban Studies,
Geodesy and Cadastre, while the Tashkent University of Architecture
and Civil Engineering will establish a new faculty focused on
modern urban planning and agglomeration management.
Creation of creative parks in every region was also proposed,
bringing together specialists in architecture, urban design,
engineering, software development, and project planning. Residents
of these parks would receive tax incentives, including reduced
personal income and social tax obligations.
The presentation highlighted persistent challenges in the
construction sector, including unauthorized building activity,
delays in project completion, and inefficient land use.
Authorities reported that 1,952 illegal construction projects
were identified in 2025 and said existing penalties have failed to
provide an effective deterrent. As a result, stronger financial
sanctions for construction-related violations are being
proposed.
The government also reviewed reforms aimed at protecting
citizens participating in shared-equity housing developments.
Construction of apartment buildings financed through shared
participation has increased significantly in recent years, with
annual construction volumes exceeding 11 million square meters in
2025. However, authorities said violations in the sector have also
grown, causing losses of approximately 668 billion soms (about $55
million) to nearly 3,000 citizens last year alone.
To address these risks, officials have drafted a new law on
shared-equity construction that would strengthen consumer
protections, improve transparency, and introduce stricter oversight
of developers.
A key element of the reform package is the introduction of
escrow accounts, under which buyers' funds would be held in special
accounts at authorized banks and released to developers only after
construction milestones are completed.
Under the proposed system, escrow funds would be protected from
creditors, transactions would be conducted exclusively through
authorized banks, developers would receive funds only after
property transfer requirements are met, and buyers would receive
full refunds if contracts are terminated.
Authorities also plan to launch a unified digital platform known
as "Uy-joy" ("Housing"), which will consolidate information on
developers, permits, construction progress, escrow accounts,
contracts, and project ratings into a single electronic system.
The platform is intended to address fragmentation among existing
government databases, including land registry, auction, permitting,
and construction information systems, enabling authorities to track
a project's entire lifecycle through a unified digital
framework.
The government further proposed introducing digital land
passports, project passports, and facility passports, each linked
through a single identifier to improve transparency and data
integration.
Another major focus of the presentation was urban renewal.
Officials noted that more than 17,000 residential buildings
constructed before 1991 could eventually be replaced with modern,
energy-efficient housing equipped with updated infrastructure.
To support this effort, the government has drafted a new Urban
Renovation Law, which would establish legal procedures governing
redevelopment zones, public consultation requirements, compensation
mechanisms, resettlement processes, investor obligations, and
government responsibilities.
It was said that renovation projects could help modernize aging
housing stock, improve public safety, expand green spaces, upgrade
utilities, and enhance social infrastructure.
Mirziyoyev emphasized that urban development policies must
prioritize sustainable growth and improve living conditions for
citizens. He instructed officials to accelerate the digitalization
of planning documents, launch the Uy-joy platform, implement escrow
mechanisms, strengthen protections for homebuyers, and establish
transparent renovation procedures.
