Reshaping Urban Design: SME Relocation under Istanbul’s Zoning Reforms

This study investigates how zoning reforms and environmental plan revisions in Istanbul have transformed urban design and displaced small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Drawing on official demographic statistics, business license data, and municipal planning reports, this research maps SME relocation patterns across districts such as Zeytinburnu, Kartal, Bayrampaşa, Başakşehir, and Beylikdüzü. These case studies reveal a push–pull dynamic in which SMEs are forced out of traditional industrial zones due to rezoning decisions and rising land values, while being drawn into peripheral areas with lower costs but weaker infrastructure.

The analysis combines quantitative evidence from TÜİK ADNKS, TOBB SME reports, and BTK infrastructure data with spatial visualizations of the 1/100,000 Environmental Plan revisions. Figures and maps illustrate how land-use changes reshape the city’s economic geography, highlighting the intersection of planning decisions and enterprise competitiveness.

Findings suggest that current planning frameworks prioritize large-scale redevelopment while overlooking the resilience of SMEs, which constitute the backbone of Istanbul’s economy. This paper argues for urban design strategies that integrate economic resilience into planning, ensuring that zoning reforms do not undermine local enterprise sustainability. By linking spatial transformation to economic outcomes, this study contributes to debates on inclusive urban development and the role of planning in shaping equitable cities.