DM delays green regulations to aid troubled developers

DM has delayed its green regulations to assist developers in the wake of the construction slowdown

Dubai Municipality’s (DM) long awaited green building regulations will not be unveiled “for some time,” according to a top construction lawyer.

The delay is believed to be due to the financial crisis and the effect it is having on cash-strapped developers across Dubai.

Pinsent Masons lawyer Philip Corfield-Smith met with representatives of WSP, the consultancy firm which is preparing the regulations along with the DM, last week.

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He said that certain areas of the regulations were still to be ironed out. “(WSP)gave indicators that it is going to be some time before they are actually in a position to finish them off,” Corfield-Smith told Construction Week.

“The indication we got is that they have submitted drafts and that there are a number of amendments that need to be made.”

Corfield-Smith said that “(WSP) wasn’t able to give us a time frame unfortunately,” but added “it’s unlikely that they will be coming out in the short term.”

The DM offered no comment when contacted by CW.

The regulations were originally set to be unveiled at October’s Big 5 exhibition, and were to become effective January 1.

But the regulations were not unveiled as planned. DM senior environmental planner Adi Zuhair Afaneh said at the time, “We are hoping to submit the regulations to the executive council by the start of next year, and the council will decide when the regulations are to come into force.”

Many in the industry believe it is the right decision to delay the regulations.

“It’s not the right time to bring them out now,” Corfield-Smith said. “I think the industry has got some greater priorities with respect to the financial difficulties that everyone is facing.

“The last thing the DM needs is to bring them out at a time when their likely impact will be severely reduced.

“I think it will be far better to wait until the industry is starting to see some revival and then bring them out.”

The green regulations are to be introduced in four tiers, with the final tier scheduled to come into force in 2015. Each tier will be more stringent than the previous.

The staggered release is designed to reduce the impact that the regulations will have on developers.