The Interior Ministry planning board on Wednesday approved an 11 dunam (2.75 acre) plot for building 1,400 housing units in the southwestern area of Ramot, Jerusalem.

The decision was made possible by a high court ruling which overturned a district court decision of August 10, 2004, which limited the boundaries of the capital regarding development.

The planning board announced the decision also take environmental concerns into account, and the need to find the balance between permitting development and construction, while maintaining an adequate amount of land as nature reserves and parks.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)