The Relationship Between Planned Development and Green Space Sufficiency: The Case of Istanbul
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This study aims to evaluate the relationship between planned urban development and the sufficiency of active green spaces in Istanbul using 2024 data. The research analyzes the impact of planned development rates on the distribution of green spaces, in relation to socio-spatial variables such as population density, income level, and distance to the central business district. A spatial analysis was conducted using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and regression analysis methods, based on up-to-date data covering Istanbul’s 39 districts. The findings reveal that the average amount of active green space per capita in Istanbul is 5.2 m². This figure falls significantly below both the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of 9 m² and the 10 m² standard required within municipal and adjacent areas according to Turkey’s Spatial Plans Construction Regulation (2014). In unplanned and densely populated districts (e.g., Esenyurt, Bağcılar), this figure drops below 1 m², whereas in well-planned and low-density districts (e.g., Sarıyer, Beykoz, Çatalca, Ataşehir, Başakşehir, Şile), it exceeds 10 m². The regression analysis identified a strong positive relationship between the proportion of planned development and the per capita amount of green space (R² = 0.61). Furthermore, it was found that access to green space decreases as the distance from the central business area increases. These findings highlight how unplanned growth deepens spatial inequalities and underscore the necessity of integrated planning strategies to ensure the equitable distribution of green spaces.