Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Minister of National Territory Planning, Urbanism, Housing, and City Policy, said on Monday that during the current government term, an average of 16,300 families per year have benefitted from improved housing conditions as part of efforts to combat inadequate housing.
In response to a question during a parliamentary session, the minister noted that this reflects a 163% increase from the 2018-2021 period when an average of 6,200 families per year saw housing improvements. She also reported a 35% reduction in the spread of slums
In the Skhirat-Temara region alone, 22,549 families have been relocated so far. “The ministry is also working extensively in Greater Casablanca, which accounts for over 50% of the families involved in the slum eradication program. Here, calls for expressions of interest received significant private sector engagement,” El Mansouri said.
The minister discussed the ministry’s 2024-2028 plan to combat inadequate housing and eliminate slums, focusing on a new approach. This includes rehousing through social housing units or homes valued at MAD 300,000 (including taxes) and enhancing partnerships with the private sector.
The plan also involves mobilizing apartments via developers under requests for interest, as well as implementing a direct housing support program to speed up the process of addressing slum housing.
In response to another question on complex administrative procedures for construction and investment files at urban planning agencies, the Minister pointed out that “these agencies base their evaluations on urban planning laws, documents, and current zoning regulations,” adding that architects preparing permit requests follow the same standards and documents.
Regarding the issue of design changes, El Mansouri indicated that the Ministry issued two directives to reassess major projects that had previously not received approval. “This has enabled the reevaluation of 15,988 projects between December 2021 and October 2024, with 4,382 of these projects representing a total investment of 40.64 billion MAD, now approved,” she stated.