Parcellation

In Turkish practice, parcellation (parselasyon) is the re-division and reorganisation of land in an area to match the implementation zoning plan. Irregular plots inherited from the cadastral survey are pooled and reshaped, producing zoning plots that conform to the plan and front onto roads. The result is approved by the authority as a parcellation plan and registered in the land registry.

The shared contribution for public land

Land needed for public uses such as roads, parks, parking and school sites is provided by deducting a share from every plot included in the scheme. In Turkey this deduction is called the düzenleme ortaklık payı (DOP), the readjustment contribution. Its limit and method of calculation are set by legislation, and the remaining land is distributed back to the owners as new plots. Because it directly changes who owns what, parcellation is one of the most sensitive steps in implementing a plan and can lead to objections.

What it means for a project

Until a new zoning plot exists, it is usually not possible to start the permit process. After parcellation the shape, area and frontage of a site can change, so sketches based on old cadastral boundaries may no longer hold. Design work should therefore start from the finalised zoning plot and a current zoning certificate. The plot corners are then set out on site according to these new boundaries.