Private plots in Sadad, Malkiya and Karzakkan frozen over planning reviews

TDT | Manama

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Several privately owned plots in Sadad, Malkiya, Karzakkan (12th Constituency) are marked ‘under study’ and cannot be used for housing until planning and traffic reviews are completed, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has told MP Hanan Fardan.

In a written reply to her parliamentary question, the ministry explained how land is classified and reclassified in the Northern Governorate and what rules govern any change in use.

It said the main reference for urban growth is the National Strategic Master Plan for the Kingdom of Bahrain 2030, adopted by Decree No. 36 of 2016. The plan guides land use across the country through to 2030. Zoning maps for each governorate are issued by ministerial decision and published in the Official Gazette. They are revised when planning studies, government programmes or other policy directions require it.

The ministry pointed to the 2017 decisions approving zoning maps: Decision No. 15 for the Capital Governorate, No. 16 for the Northern Governorate, No. 17 for Muharraq and No. 18 for the Southern Governorate. These decisions define permitted uses for each plot and set building conditions. They remain the formal reference point for classification across the four governorates.

Government and private land are handled differently. Government plots are classified according to the owning body or the purpose assigned to them. Sub-categories within public services have been introduced to clarify use. If a government plot is reassigned for another public purpose, its classification can be amended after planning and technical studies and coordination with the bodies concerned, in line with the Government Programme 2023–2026.

Private owners seeking a change in classification must apply through the electronic urban planning platform ‘Takhteet’. Each request is reviewed under the approved procedure. If accepted, a ministerial decision is issued, published in the Official Gazette and the zoning maps are then amended. Reclassification can also arise through the replanning of unplanned areas, based on detailed studies and an approved plan.

Responding to Fardan’s request for plots in 12th Constituency designated for places of worship, parks and car parks, the ministry said it had provided updated classification maps showing land assigned to those uses according to the authority’s records.

It also attached the planning and building requirements for religious services areas (CSR), car parking areas (CP) and recreational areas (REC) under Ministerial Decision No. 93 of 2023. These rules were published in Official Gazette issue No. 3700 on 28 September 2023 and also cover standards for residential, commercial, service and public facility land.

As for land labelled ‘US’, meaning under study, the ministry said the marking applies to a number of private plots affected by proposed changes to land status, road widening and other planning considerations. Final classification will follow once the necessary planning, traffic and technical studies are completed and approvals obtained. Because they are privately owned, the plots cannot be allocated to housing schemes.

The ministry said it would continue to work with Parliament in support of urban development and housing projects.