An-Najah Staff

This study concentrates on trends of physical development in the western suburbs of Nablus city. These suburbs face several physical and administrative problems. These development of these suburbs resulted from the urban expansion and population growth of Nablus city, which forced the city to expand towards the western direction. Also, the closeness factor from the city center was another reason of expansion to wards these suburbs. One of the most significant administrative problems in these suburbs was how to find solutions for their future physical development, and that such solutions must be feasible and possible. Therefore, this study concentrates on analyzing existing situation of these suburbs in terms of their geographical, socio-economic, administrative, planning and structural features based on the available data and information collected from to understand the proposals dealing with the problems and satisfying the needs and prospects of the population. The study indicated that the western suburbs of Nablus have distinctive natural, geographical and human characteristics, including the agricultural, commercial, institutional and industrial potentials as compared to the eastern suburbs of the city. Also, they showed lower population growth, which attracts residence and physical development in these suburbs Finally, the study resulted in certain scenarios and alternative for future development in the area, These scenarios and development alternatives have been examined and studied on the ground as well as through interviewing the decision makers (head and members of local councils ) in the area. Therefore the study emphasizes the urgency of preparing the comprehensive master plans of these suburbs with the consideration of their relation with the city, and also accelerating the development processes in various fields. Moreover, the study emphasizes the interaction and integration between Nablus city and these suburbs through considering their physical development as part of the city is expected natural development to wars the west, whiter the urban and rural life was jointly mixed.