The new face of the countryside near the City of El Jadida: the spread of villas in the commune of El Houzia

Abstract

Peri-urban areas have become increasingly important due to the essential roles they play as zones of urban expansion and extensions of urban space. They also constitute significant land reserves for cities, while serving as key sources of agricultural products and functioning as green belts that help compensate for the shortage of green spaces in urban areas.

Second homes, particularly villas, represent a relatively recent phenomenon in the rural areas of the Doukkala region. This type of housing has experienced remarkable growth across the various communes of El Jadida Province, especially in areas surrounding urban centers. Among these, the Commune of El Haouzia has witnessed a widespread expansion of villa housing. This development can be attributed to several factors, most notably the rise in urban real estate prices, the increasing use of private means of transportation—particularly automobiles—and the availability of a diversified and well-developed road network.

However, this dynamic has generated a number of significant spatial impacts, primarily reflected in the encroachment upon agricultural holdings and the gradual decline of rural space, alongside the expansion of built-up areas and the intensification of real estate speculation. Consequently, the territory is undergoing rapid transformation, progressively abandoning its traditional characteristics as urban features increasingly intermingle with rural ones. This process has contributed to reshaping the area's boundaries and reconfiguring its spatial structure.