Economic Geography Research

Economic Geography Research

Investigating the effects of the economic value of land on the approvals of land use changes by the Article 5 Commission in the ten regions of Tabriz (1995-2024)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Javad Imani Shamloo 1
Milad Beyrami 2
1 Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Arts University, Tabriz, Iran
2 Master's student, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Tabriz Islamic Arts University, Tabriz, Iran
10.30470/jegr.2025.2058086.1287
Abstract
Land use change is a central challenge in urban management and planning, shaped by economic, social, and political dynamics. Under Article 5 of the Law on the Establishment of the Supreme Council of Urban Planning and Architecture of Iran, the Article 5 Commission is the main authority for approving detailed plans and land use modifications. This study investigates land use changes approved by the Article 5 Commission in Tabriz’s ten districts and assesses the role of land value in these transformations. Data were obtained from approvals between 1995 and 2024, excluding 2013–2015 and 2017. Spatial intensity of changes was analyzed in GIS, and Pearson correlation in SPSS was applied to examine relationships among variables. Findings show that Tabriz’s spatial economy is strongly influenced by land use changes and land value differences. District 5 recorded the highest share of transformations. Residential and commercial uses expanded most due to higher profitability, while public services such as green spaces and schools declined. Results further reveal a positive relationship between land price and residential use growth, reflecting the profitability of this category in high-demand areas. By contrast, land price showed a negative correlation with green space per capita, indicating that rising values reduce allocations for public functions. This trend reflects the influence of spatial political economy, rent, and profit-driven incentives in converting public lands into residential and commercial uses.
Keywords
Land use changes
economic value of land
political economy of space
urban rent
Article 5 Commission
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Economic Geography Research
Volume 6, Issue 20
Summer 1404
Summer 2025
Pages 44-54

  • Receive Date 20 April 2025
  • Revise Date 29 May 2025
  • Accept Date 24 August 2025