By Mohammed Osman
DOHA: In an important move to boost business activities, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has allowed houses in some popular streets to use part of their premises for commercial purposes.
As per the amended rules of the ministry, extensions or majlises of houses directly overlooking the commercial streets can be modified and licensed for commercial purposes.
Commercial streets to be part of this development plan are Madinat Khalifa, Rawdat Al Khail in the west and the east of Nuaija, Furosia Street in Al Murra, Al Wajba Street in new Rayyan, Umm Salal Street in Umm Salal, Umm Qarn Street in Umm Qarn and Semaisima Street in Semaisima.
The move will allow many families to take advantage of the location of their homes while having the right to keep the structure of their main premises intact, if they wish. They can continue to stay in their homes, while using part of the premises for commercial activities, the ministry said on its Twitter account yesterday.
The amendment to the rule aims to speed up development, boost commercial activities and meet the increasing demand for commercial and administrative buildings, said the ministry.
According to the amended planning rules, each villa or building in commercial streets will have a single licence, irrespective of the number of extensions. However, the portion being modified and used for commercial purpose must have a separate licence.
The ministry has provided three models or designs from which owners can choose one to develop their premises. The ministry said it seeks to facilitate the development process allowing house owners and businesses to use their space optimally.
Beneficiaries of new regulations have been advised to submit applications for modification and licence to the Department of Technical Affairs at the ministry.
The Central Municipal Council (CMC) had stressed the importance of establishing new commercial streets, increasing the height of buildings in some areas and expanding existing commercial streets to avoid crowding and reduce building rents, Councillor Jassem Al Malki, a former chairman of its Service and Facilities Committee told this daily yesterday.
CMC had also proposed to allow people to benefit from the location of their homes, he added.
Some residential buildings, extensions and majlises facing commercial and administrative streets need to be modified according to the designs developed by the ministry and licensed to be used for commercial or administrative purposes, Al Malki said.
Many old markets like Mesherib have been demolished to give way to massive development projects in the country. This has created pressure on other places including commercial streets and caused a continuous increase in rents, said Al Malki.
“It is good news that the Ministry has taken this decision in response to public demands and proposals of the CMC members who raised these issues during their meeting with the Minister of Municipality and Environment HE Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi recently,” said Al Malki.
The Peninsula
