Exploring Transfer of Development Rights: Global Practices and Implementation Challenges in Iran

Rapid urbanization and neoliberal land policies have increasingly put pressure on natural, agricultural, and historically valuable urban lands, particularly in countries lacking comprehensive planning and compensation mechanisms. Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) has emerged globally as a land use policy and market-based instrument to reconcile the need for urban growth with the imperative of land conservation, offering a solution that benefits both restricted landowners and developers. This study explores the concept, evolution, and implementation of TDR programs through a narrative literature review, examining global best practices. The research identifies core principles, such as the separation and monetization of development rights, and evaluates how these programs have been adapted across legal and planning frameworks. Applying this analysis to Iran, with a focus on Tehran, the paper reveals that although TDR has been recognized in academic and institutional discussions, no formal implementation has occurred due to legal ambiguity, lack of inter-agency coordination, and competing economic incentives. By synthesizing theoretical insights and contextual realities, the article argues that adapting TDR in Iran demands structural reform across legal, economic, institutional, and technical domains. The study concludes with a proposed pathway for integrating TDR into Iranian urban policy, emphasizing equity, environmental sustainability, and administrative feasibility as key pillars for success.

کلیدواژه ها:

Transfer of Development Rights ، Land Preservation ، Urban Development ، Market-Based Instruments ، Land Use Policy