UN body reveals shortfalls in housing sector
Despite a booming economy based on its oil and gas
supplies, Azerbaijan has not always supported methodical urban
development, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
concluded following its recent visit to the country.
While rapid economic growth has boosted the construction sector, much of the country`s existing housing stock and utilities infrastructure remains outdated and has many problems, according to an assessment released by UNDP Azerbaijan.
In its report, the UNECE said the country faces a number of challenges, among them the lack of affordable housing, including social housing, illegal construction, poor living conditions in certain urban and rural areas, and inadequate maintenance and management of multi-family buildings. These phenomena are coupled with the exponential growth of luxury buildings in the centre of the capital, Baku, developed without any master plan or spatial planning strategy.
The Commission noted, however, that efforts are underway to create systems to plan for urban growth as well as increase the quality and safety of buildings. For instance, the country is engaged in a number of development plans. It is also updating its town planning, building and housing legislation; improving procedures to guarantee the quality and safety of buildings; promoting coherent regional development; and completing a modern real estate registry system.
To support these actions, the government has requested the UNECE, through its Committee on Housing and Land Management, develop a Country Profile on the Housing Sector. The Profile will analyze current trends and offer recommendations and suggestions on how to improve urban planning and housing conditions throughout the country.
As elsewhere, in Azerbaijan the world financial crisis has affected the housing market, limiting accessibility to alternative investment plans and sustainable financing mechanisms. The analysis and recommendations in the Country Profile will also focus on identifying adequate housing finance systems along the lines of the planned state mortgage program that is creating the foundations for a mortgage market to help middle-income families purchase their homes.
To develop the Country Profile for Azerbaijan, international experts interviewed selected specialists and professionals from ministries and state agencies during the first weeks of May, as well as international and local organizations, local authorities and developers. This is the fourteenth Country Profile developed by UNECE, and follows similar reviews in Kyrgyzstan (2008), Belarus (2008), for which reports will soon be available, and Georgia (2007). The Country Profile for Azerbaijan will be published in the coming months, the UNECE said.
While rapid economic growth has boosted the construction sector, much of the country`s existing housing stock and utilities infrastructure remains outdated and has many problems, according to an assessment released by UNDP Azerbaijan.
In its report, the UNECE said the country faces a number of challenges, among them the lack of affordable housing, including social housing, illegal construction, poor living conditions in certain urban and rural areas, and inadequate maintenance and management of multi-family buildings. These phenomena are coupled with the exponential growth of luxury buildings in the centre of the capital, Baku, developed without any master plan or spatial planning strategy.
The Commission noted, however, that efforts are underway to create systems to plan for urban growth as well as increase the quality and safety of buildings. For instance, the country is engaged in a number of development plans. It is also updating its town planning, building and housing legislation; improving procedures to guarantee the quality and safety of buildings; promoting coherent regional development; and completing a modern real estate registry system.
To support these actions, the government has requested the UNECE, through its Committee on Housing and Land Management, develop a Country Profile on the Housing Sector. The Profile will analyze current trends and offer recommendations and suggestions on how to improve urban planning and housing conditions throughout the country.
As elsewhere, in Azerbaijan the world financial crisis has affected the housing market, limiting accessibility to alternative investment plans and sustainable financing mechanisms. The analysis and recommendations in the Country Profile will also focus on identifying adequate housing finance systems along the lines of the planned state mortgage program that is creating the foundations for a mortgage market to help middle-income families purchase their homes.
To develop the Country Profile for Azerbaijan, international experts interviewed selected specialists and professionals from ministries and state agencies during the first weeks of May, as well as international and local organizations, local authorities and developers. This is the fourteenth Country Profile developed by UNECE, and follows similar reviews in Kyrgyzstan (2008), Belarus (2008), for which reports will soon be available, and Georgia (2007). The Country Profile for Azerbaijan will be published in the coming months, the UNECE said.
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