MANAMA – Bahrain is set to implement at the beginning of 2013 the new building regulations that will require new developments to be constructed using international environmental standards. The new building code requires the use of eco-friendly best practices in the new developments, which must also incorporate a minimum 50 percent of greenery in their total land space, including the planting of palm trees and indigenous vegetation. Additionally, each new development's rooftop must have a green zone that makes use of at least 50 percent of available space. The code and its criteria is expected to be presented well in advance of Jan. 1, the date of implementation. When the draft legislation was unveiled in July, Abdulrazzak Al Hattab, chairman of the Central Municipal Council, said once the code is in place, the Kingdom will become a leader in sustainable building practices. “The law is so comprehensive and detailed that pollution rates would sharply drop, whatever their sources are,” he said. “It includes strict criteria for new buildings, which for now excludes villas and homes, and will reduce the level of all pollution, whether noise, gas, sewage, electricity, water, eyesores and others.” Bahrain's green building credentials will be showcased in a major new development project, which could serve as a model for future projects. In mid-June, plans were unveiled for the construction of a new town development comprising an area of 356 ha, divided almost equally between the Northern and Central Governorates. In addition to high-end villas, the township will also have schools, a library, a theatre, a health center, and office and commercial complexes, all of which will be built to eco-friendly industry standards. Bahrain is also considering building a strip of 50-storey skyscrapers along the seafront of the Seef District of the island, despite objections that the towers will destroy the area's skyline. The Manama Municipal Council plans to give the green light for area along the coast of the Seef District to be developed into towers for commercial and residential use. If the five-year plan being considered is approved it will result in a strip of towers up to 50-storeys lining the seafront. However, some residents and lawmakers in the area are concerned the urbanization of the coastal area and the increase in tall buildings will destroy the area. “We can't stop investors from building their projects and at the same time we can't force investments on residents who have lived there way before it became an attractive hub,” council vice-chairman and area councilor Mohammed Mansoor was quoted as saying. “We see three houses and 10 multi-storey buildings - one with a height of 15 storeys, another 10 storeys and some 20,” he added. “Then we see government buildings that are three storeys scattered in between, which makes the place ugly.” Despite the ongoing social unrest in the country, real estate transactions in Bahrain rose nearly 60 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2012, the Al-Watan newspaper reported in July, citing statistics from the Survey and Land Registration Bureau. – SG/Agencies
