The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC) has announced the launch of its first mixed-use development featuring a number of villas and community facilities in the Mirfa region of the UAE capital.

Al Wajeha Al Bahria is the first housing and retail project in the Mirfa beach area of Al Gharbia (Abu Dhabi’s Western Region). It has been enhanced to feature a pedestrian promenade and large areas of public space, as part of the UPC review of the planning application.

Located on a site between Mirfa Beach and Mirfa City, the scheme is within Mirfa, one of the seven key settlements that feature in Plan Al Gharbia 2030. The first project within the Mirfa masterplan, it includes mixed-use blocks and a number of villas and community facilities.

The UPC had been working closely with the developer to identify how value could be added to the planning submission for the benefit of the community, before granting approval.

As a result, the project will now feature a beachfront promenade for pedestrians and cyclists that connects Al Wajeha Al Bahria with other planned projects on the Mirfa coastline, it added.

“Al Wajeha Al Bahria is a good example of how the UPC successfully collaborates with developers to ensure the needs of the community are met,” remarked Mohamed Al Khadar, the executive director, Urban Development and Estidama Sector, UPC.

On Al Wajeha Al Bahria, he said a stronger link between the residential part of the development and the natural beachfront and landscaped areas had been created through shaded pathways.

"We are confident that this will accentuate the living experience for its residents," noted Al Khadar.

“In line with community needs, the project with its amenities will be a new attraction for Mirfa residents and local visitors to enjoy. Given its location adjacent to the future Mirfa Beach development, these residents will have easy access to one of Al Gharbia’s natural assets.” he added.

According to him, the Abu Dhabi UPC worked with the Western Region Municipality to implement a road network in and around the Mirfa coastline area to serve Al Wajeha Al Bahria, which has paved the way for future development to take place.

"To ensure all projects are in line with Vision 2030, the Urban Development and Estidama Sector assess each project in line with the individual framework plan for the region it is located in, as well as the UPC’s suite of policies and manuals to create attractive, integrated and sustainable urban developments," noted Al Khadar.

The announcement comes soon after the UPC disclosed details of the planned Mirfa Beach development – also within the overall Mirfa masterplan – which will feature over 400 villas for UAE nationals on a site adjacent to Al Wajeha Al Bahria.

The design of the Mirfa Beach villas, along with the detailed design for all other community facilities within the development, is in progress and construction is due to begin in the first half of 2017.-TradeArabia News Service