Development controls

The Abu Dhabi government has launched an urban planning initiative in order to take greater control over escalating development in the emirate, according to on-line news service, Arabian Business.

The plan aims to increase integration between large-scale projects, and could result in developers having to make significant design changes to projects currently under construction, the report said.

It added that an integrated master plan for Abu Dhabi involves plans for coordinated transport networks, public amenities and other infrastructure development.

Colin Hill, a technical director for engineering and architectural consultancy, OTAK International, said in the report, “Up until now many of the master plans have considered developments in isolation and treated them as separate entities.

“But the only way that ongoing developments are going to work is if they are integrated and form part of an overall development strategy for Abu Dhabi. There is a noticeable movement along those lines.”