Tetouan
MOROCCO
The Tetouan Urban Agency operates in the provinces of Tetouan and Chefchaouen as well as in the Prefecture of Mdiq-Fnideq. Covering 7767.8 km2, this territory has a wide seafront 14 km from Spain.
The Tetouan Urban Agency
Under the supervision of the Ministry of Regional Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy, the Tetouan Urban Agency is at the interface between local authorities, citizens and planners. Urban planning, studies, drafting of urban plans, development plans or master plans, it is also operational through its urban management, technical assistance and expertise activities for local authorities.
Tangier-Tetouan is one of the most dynamic regions in the Kingdom: TGV Tangier-Casablanca, 3 airports within an 80km radius, Tangier med port complex, etc. There is a real royal will to make it a model of development. One of the objectives of this ambition is to position Tangier-Tetouan as an economic territory within the Euro-Mediterranean area and above all to enhance the competitiveness of northern Morocco at the national level. A great deal of investment is being made in this territory: Tetouan and Tangier have respectively received 464 and 643 million euros (5 and 7 billion MAD) for territorial development and urban upgrading of the territory.
Tangier-Tetouan is, however, experiencing a number of territorial dysfunctions: lack of control over urban growth, a territory fragmented between several centres, and finally, a major problem, a very poorly controlled land tenure system and an excessive coastalization process. The colossal and numerous projects located in the territory have also disrupted the territorial structure, thus creating a process of polarization. Creation of highways, development plan to upgrade cities: many projects are currently structuring the Tangiers-Tetouan territory and creating a new dynamic.
Some examples of projects carried out by the Tetouan Urban Agency
Concerning Heritage, the Tetouan Urban Agency has just delivered the third rehabilitation programme for the Tetouan medina, classified as a universal heritage by UNESCO. Very rich in architecture and culture, the medina of Tetouan contains many historical and religious monuments. The Tetouan Urban Agency has worked on a 50-hectare site with a budget of 350 million MAD (32.5 million euros) for the restoration and revitalization of this site. One of the main objectives of this project is also to enhance the history and heritage of this medina, as a real development potential.
Still with a view to enhancing and restoring local heritage, the Urban Agency of Tetouan is also working on the architectural heritage inherited from the Spanish colonisation, a real architectural and urban wealth classified as national heritage with a view to safeguarding it and developing a programme for the economic and urban revitalisation of this fabric.
Another large-scale project: the Oued Martil project, spread over a 17km stretch and crossing the city of Tetouan. The main objective of this integrated project is to connect the city between the two shores and “reconcile” the Great Tetouan with the banks of the Oued. The project is currently in its operational phase: a company dedicated to this development has been created and the land reclamation process is underway, as well as the implementation of a process to contain the banks of the Oued and the development of green plans to protect the city from flooding.
