Israel approves 3,176‑unit Ramat housing project as Kiryat Bialik plan is rejected

The Central District Planning and Building Committee approved a large urban renewal scheme for the Ashkel neighborhood in Ramat. The plan calls for the demolition of 850 existing housing units and the construction of 3,176 new apartments in eight‑ to 12‑storey buildings and towers up to 27 storeys, together with about 8,000 m² of commercial space, new public facilities, parks and bike‑ and pedestrian paths. The development is positioned near the future metro line and the planned Yitzhak‑Ramat station, and includes a quarter of the new units as small‑size apartments.

In a separate decision, the same committee rejected a proposal to build roughly 1,200 apartments on agricultural land in the eastern part of Kiryat Bialik. The plan was deemed inconsistent with the need for a comprehensive master‑plan for the entire eastern sector, citing insufficient road access, lack of sewage solutions, and the requirement for integrated infrastructure, public spaces and employment areas. The rejection does not close the area to future development, but any large‑scale housing must be part of a broader, coordinated plan.