Iran's High Council of Urban Planning rejects a density increase from 11 to 15 floors in Tehran's District 1

Gholamreza Kazemian, secretary of Iran's High Council of Urban Planning and Architecture, notified the council's decision on a fundamental inconsistency between Tehran's detailed plan and its master plan over an increase in building density from 11 to 15 floors, in a letter to Tehran governor Mohammad Sadegh Motamedian, Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani and city council chairman Mehdi Chamran. The news was published on Monday 3 August 2026 (12 Mordad 1405).

At its session on 13 July 2026 (22 Tir 1405), the council reviewed clause 9 of minutes number 727 of Tehran's Article 5 Commission, dated 26 January 2026 (6 Bahman 1404), covering a plot in District 1 on Shariati Street near Roumi Bridge. The request had been made on the basis of transferring the development rights of a heritage listed property in District 12.

The council found the request lacked any minimum urban planning justification and set out five reasons: the economic value of the transferred development rights was disproportionate, running to several times the value of the District 12 property; a systemic no violation certificate had not been obtained, contrary to Tehran municipality's standing practice; the proposal rested solely on raising the project's economic yield; the traffic effects were unclear given the 12 metre wide streets to the north and south of the plot; and support services for the added population had not been resolved.