Great kick-off with AS+P for the "Greater Nizwa Structure Plan" in the Sultanate of Oman

24.11.2023

Initial approaches for the vision of the Greater Nizwa Structure Plan were presented at the event. All photos © AS+P Albert Speer + Partner GmbH

In November, the Omani Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP) invited the Greater Nizwa Structure Team with AS+P and other stakeholders to a workshop to discuss the key topics of the project.

It was only at the beginning of this year that AS+P Albert Speer + Partner GmbH was awarded the contract to develop a comprehensive planning strategy for the greater Nizwa area in the centre of Oman's heartland: "Consultancy Services for the Development of the Greater Nizwa Structure Plan". The structure plan that shall be developed is considered an important step towards the sustainable management of Nizwa's regional and urban development within the framework of the Oman National Spatial Strategy (ONSS) and the Oman Vision 2040.

There was great interest in the one-day event at the IntercityHotel in Nizwa: around 160 participants discussed the approaches presented by the AS+P team for the future urban development of the greater Nizwa area and debated the priorities set in urban and open space planning, economy, mobility, infrastructure, cultural heritage, and history at a variety of themed tables. "The event was a very good opportunity for everyone involved to discuss the project's strategy and vision, and we are proud to have played a leading role in this great project with our interdisciplinary team," said Stefanie Wladika (Project Manager) and Jürgen Häpp (Associated Partner), summarizing the positive outcome for AS+P.

The Greater Nizwa Structure Plan will strengthen the region and promote tourism. It forms the base for the upgrading of urban settlements in the greater Nizwa area and for the creation of a resilient road network.

The landscape, characterized by mountains, gorges and wadis, is to be sensitively integrated - as is the falaj, the traditional irrigation system that is unique in the Arab states and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the planners at AS+P, the examination of the rich history and culture of the location is the key driver for the future of the city and the region. The structural plan includes the areas of socio-economic urban development, mobility, regional, urban and open space planning, strategies for local development as well as climate and environmental protection.