Work has started on a major development in Egypt's capital, with the country's Prime Minister on-hand for the Green River park's groundbreaking.

Set to be one of the world’s largest parks, Green River is a major aspect of Egypt’s development of a new administrative capital to the east of Cairo.

Stretching more than 10km and covering an area of more than 1,000 acres, the development will be divided into three homogeneous planning sectors, each linked to the immediate surroundings, and each reflecting a distinctive visual and urban characteristic.

These sectors are named CP 01, CP 02 and CP 03. CP 01 will house a mosque, botanical garden, El Khan traditional garden, lodges and kiosks, an open zoo, a park, a food court and waterfall. CP 02 will have a boutique hotel, recovery resort and healing park, a dancing fountain, spas and wellness centres. CP 03, meanwhile, will have riverfront retail shops and restaurants, playgrounds, an arena and a plaza stage.

A network of pedestrian and bike-ways will connect the park’s different areas, providing greater opportunity for community interaction. It's expected to be finished in 18 months, and to host more than two million visitors annually.

Design of Green River and other parts of the The Capital Cairo project has been undertaken by 5+ UDC, a team of planning, architectural, engineering and project and construction management consultants based in Egypt. It consists of Archplan Architects & Planners, Cube Consultants (architectural consultancy), Land Consultants (architects, planning and project management), Ӧkoplan Engineering Consultations, and Yasser Mansour Concept Architects.

The Capital Cairo project is intended to be distinct from Cairo’s ageing and congested infrastructure, providing new places to live, work and visit – a global city that provides economic opportunities and a noticeable quality of life.

It includes new residential neighbourhood areas, a new road network, mixed-use areas, green and open areas, and development of an Aero City and the international airport. Seven main guidelines have been followed in planning the new city: that it be green, sustainable, walkable, liveable, connected, smart and welcoming to business.