Renovation over expansion: Uzbekistan’s 140,000-home plan targets urban renewal

Uzbekistan aims to deliver 140,000 new housing units in 2026, including at least 30,000 through renovation projects. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has identified several areas with outdated, barracks-style housing as priority targets.

Photo: KUN.UZ

Speaking at a meeting on April 14, the president emphasized that the country must complete 140,000 apartments in multi-story buildings by the end of this year.

Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of prioritizing renovation over outward expansion. He noted that as cities expand into rural areas, infrastructure costs increase four to fivefold, travel distances to schools and clinics lengthen, and thousands of hectares of valuable agricultural land are lost.

Barracks-style housing remains common in several regions, including districts adjacent to the railway in Samarkand and the towns of Kattakurgan, Bulungur, Juma, and Jomboy. Authorities plan to replace these outdated structures with modern, multi-story residential buildings as part of the nationwide renovation program.

Overall, at least 30,000 apartments within these renovation zones are expected to be delivered this year.