Aldar changes project to meet new guidelines

Aldar has announced that it is to make revision changes to its mixed-use Noor Al Ain project to fit in with new Urban Planning Council (UPC) guidelines.

The height of the buildings in the residential, retail, hospitality and leisure complexes will be reduced to fit in with the architectural style of the city.

Urban structure framework

Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Aldar's Chairman, said of the planned alterations: 'Aldar and UPC and a number of other developers and consultants have been working closely on a new set of guidelines that will be integrated into the Urban Structure Framework Plan for Al Ain. Aldar...will do whatever it takes to ensure the culture and heritage of the area are preserved.'

Falah Al Ahbabi, the UPC's General Manager, commented on the move: 'The Urban Structure Framework Plan for Al Ain will be officially announced in the coming months and we appreciate the cooperation that Aldar has shown in revising the development to adhere to the principles of the Plan. This shows the constructive partnership already established between the government and the private sector to serve the emirate's 2030 Vision.'

Abu Dhabi sustainable building

The move towards sustainable building practices and cultural and environmental development, is part of a raft of measures continuing to be rolled out by the UPC over the coming months.

The Council's guidelines will include measures to ensure set standards across the emirate for green developments and environmentally-friendly practices, community masterplan guidelines such as proximity to transport links and open spaces, and the preservation of the country's cultural heritage and architecture.

The UPC has been consulting with developers and private organisations since the beginning of the year and plans to issue the finalised guidelines for future practices by November. These will then be approved by the Executive Council and issued as binding laws from January 2009.

Benchmark standards

The Council plans to set standards that will be seen as the benchmark for the building sector in the region. 'We are fine tuning the guidelines for new green buildings, ratings and communities to be enforced as law from January,' says Al Ahbabi.

'We will not destroy our environment because of the cost factor; on the contrary we will gladly incur whatever cost is necessary for a sustainable industrial or residential development.'
Billions of dirhams have been allocated to the task and the projects associated with it.

The UPC's key sustainability initiative comes under the umbrella of Estidama, the group's Sustainable Buildings and Communities Programme. The programme has issued a series of, at the moment, voluntary building guidelines which are being piloted across selected projects as part of a test phase.

'Community design is an essential element of the Estidama programme, which is the first of its kind to incorporate relevant social and cultural factors into sustainable urban planning. This phased and tested approach will ultimately deliver against the strategic vision set out by Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 to improve the quality of life across the emirate,' says Al Ahbabi.

See also:
Aldar leads the way in resale monitoring
Abu Dhabi property price increases 'certain'
Abu Dhabi property prices to increase until 2012