Bahrain plans to build sustainable developments on two areas of green belt land on the island.

The plan was first proposed in 2010, but has yet to see progress. It is hoped that legislation will be signed off this year that will allow the developments to happen. The plan was originally due to be signed off in September.

The land is located in areas to the north and south of the country, and covers 31,668 square hectares in total. It is split between private and government ownership, with the latter having about one quarter of the total area.

Speaking to MEED on the sidelines of the Saudi Green Building Forum held in the kingdom on 16-19 November, Salma Bani, senior strategic programme planner from Bahrain’s Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry, said a masterplan has been drawn up for the government-owned area, with a plan to develop a community that also includes facilities such as a shopping mall and school. The total budget for the community, dubbed Green City but as yet without an official name, is BD23m ($61m), including for infrastructure such as roads.

Bani hopes the development will be tendered once the legislation has been agreed.

The land that is in private hands is subject to strict rules. If owners do not agree to them, they will not be allowed to build on their land, which has been protected from development since 1973.

These rules include that the total built-up area on a plot cannot occupy more than 30 per cent of the land, and that 70 per cent must be used for green purposes. The government hopes to encourage people to use the land, which is fertile, to grow produce such as tomatoes, cucumbers and green-leaf vegetables. If the scheme moves ahead, the government also wants to encourage the use of hydroponics.