Every resident of Abu Dhabi will enjoy easy access to high- quality community facilities and services over the coming years under new Standards unveiled today by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC).
The new Abu Dhabi Community Facility Planning Standards (CFPS) set out the specific social, educational, cultural, recreational and healthcare facilities that must be provided in new and existing communities across the Emirate. Depending on the size, demographics and needs of a development, these might include police stations, sports centres, schools and hospitals, amongst others.
The document provides policies and guidance for Government agencies, developers and planners as to the required number, type and location of community facilities in project proposals.
For example, it stipulates that a community of between 6,000 and 10,000 residents must have access to a ‘Neighbourhood Centre’ consisting of a community centre, a police point, an early-learning centre and a small medical clinic.
A ‘District Centre’ comprising a post office, a large health clinic, a library, a sports centre, municipal offices and a community support centre must be provided for larger developments of 30,000 to 40,000 residents. The document states that a ‘Sub-Regional Centre’ must be provided for every 80,000 residents. This would contain a community support centre, a cultural centre and a multi-purpose hall, in addition to all the amenities found in a Neighbourhood Centre and a District Centre.
Eng. Amer Al Hammadi, Executive Director, Planning and Infrastructure Sector, UPC, said: “The launch of our Abu Dhabi Community Facility Planning Standards is another important milestone for the UPC and for the future development of the Emirate in line with Vision 2030.
“The Government recognises that successful, healthy and sustainable communities are well served by a full range of community facilities that are appropriate to residents’ needs and which are accessible to all. The Standards set out how this will be achieved.
“The CFPS will ensure that community facilities are considered right from the start of the planning process so that everyone in Abu Dhabi has equal access to community facilities, which is a clear direction from our Leadership. This direction has resulted in a truly collaborative process with all stakeholders involved.” Any new development of at least 2,000 permanent residents will be expected to abide by the CFPS. The Standards would be applied on a case-by-case basis to existing communities as and when they are undergoing revitalisation work, said Eng. Al Hammadi.
Under the guidelines, the provision of facilities such as schools, police and petrol stations will be calculated according to the demographic breakdown of the particular development proposal. For example, schools will be based on the number of children in the area, while civil defence stations will be determined by analysis of need and existing response times.
The CFPS requires that community facilities are delivered in line with the development of a neighbourhood – so schools and clinics, for example, will open up as a community is being developed rather than waiting until it is fully occupied.
The new Standards were drawn up following a thorough consultation process. The UPC surveyed 11,000 households across the Emirate to ask them about their use of community services and what specific facilities they would like to see in their areas.
The UPC also collaborated with 12 Government agencies, including the Department of Municipal Affairs, Abu Dhabi Education Council, Health Authority – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, to produce the CFPS.
Khalid Hadi, Vice President – Marketing and Corporate Communications Division, said: “Guided by the principles of the Abu Dhabi Vision 2030, ADNOC Distribution is keen to collaborate with public and private sector entities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi as part of our priority to broaden our network and provide the public with an enhanced experience of our services and products. Our collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council reflects this commitment. We applaud the Council for launching the new Abu Dhabi Community Facility Planning Standards (CFPS) in coordination with related stakeholders. We believe that such an initiative will significantly contribute to raising the quality of urban living in the Emirate and serve the greater public interest.” The Family Development Foundation says:”Being one of the main UAE institutions operating in the community service sector since 2006, the Family Development Foundation contributed in the development of the Abu Dhabi Community Facility Planning Standards’ (CFPS) guide. Therefore, the combined concerted efforts with other existing, sponsoring and supporting institutions efforts for the community in various domains; must not have a clear impact on the individuals only but also it should have an impact on the family as well. This is what H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, urged. This is exactly what the Foundation’s activities aim to provide for all individuals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi no matter how different their needs might be within the scope of a specific mission, a clear vision and the performance that is consistent and in line with the strategic plan of the Abu Dhabi Government.” Another stakeholder, the Health Authority – Abu Dhabi (HAAD) says: “HAAD is delighted to have been involved in the creation of these new Community Facility Planning Standards. The publication of these standards is a major step forward in ensuring that the healthcare needs of communities are met as the Emirate grows. The Standards ensure that all new communities have local access to healthcare facilities which will lead to improved health of our residents.” The Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) praised the great cooperation between itself and the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council, which resulted the issuance of this outstanding guide, the Abu Dhabi Planning Standards for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, stressing the importance of the anticipated benefits by providing services and distributing these Standards for decision-makers, the business sector and researchers in the field of urban planning and community services in Abu Dhabi. The anticipated benefits expected from the provision and dissemination of these standards for policy-makers in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi are wide-ranging. As explained Statistics Centre – Abu Dhabi keen to cooperate with all parties in building a better statistical system of the Emirate including supporting their strategic plans for sustainable development.
Colonel Dr. Engineer Saif Hamdan Al Kaabi, Engineering Projects General Manager, CEO of Police Projects Committee at Abu Dhabi Police GHQ, said: “The role of Abu Dhabi Police GHQ lies in setting the conditions , requirements and standards in providing the police services through police station locations, civil defence centres, police community points and emergency and public safety points, with the aim to provide all the security services to the community and in line with the requirements of modern life for citizens and residents in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
