COMMITTED AND INTELLIGENT MASTER PLANNING
SPATIAL STRATEGIES OF OMAN – FOR FOUR REGIONS TO THRIVE
Far reaching strategy for four relatively underdeveloped regions of Oman to identify economic and development priorities, a programme of institutional strengthening and a plan for government support. Part of the National Spatial Strategy and Vision 2040 programme.
The Regional Spatial Strategies aim to provide a framework for comprehensive growth that will ensure sustainable socio-economic development at both the national and regional levels. We led the planning stream of work assisting Khatib & Alami and Jacobs, coordinating surveys and settlement studies, developing options for growth and conducting presentations and workshops with the technical and ministerial client team.
A major challenge of the project was the sheer scale of the area, including 4 regional capitals, 12 other significant towns, as well as 50 major settlements and hundreds of villages. Recent investment in the cities focused on public sector services, with a limited role for the private sector: our strategic focus was centred on understanding local distinctiveness and propose a suitable economic framework which would create high value jobs for the local population and secure prosperity in future, in the context of increased environmental and heritage protection and respect of traditions.
The strategies also include a GIS based planning information system, development targets, policies and regulations.
