Physical Planning Section

The Physical Planning Section is headed by the Chief Physical Planning Officer who also serves as Executive Secretary to the Development Control Authority (DCA). The Section is the technical arm of the DCA established under the Land Development (Interim Control) Act of 1971. However a new Physical Planning Legislation, through a new Physical Planning and Development Act 2001 has recently been passed in Parliament. This Act is to replace the existing Land Development Interim Control Act of 1971.

The new Act attempts to make the planning and regulatory processes more responsive to the policies of the government and the needs of the community. The present Board of the DCA will be dissolved under the New Act and local advisory committees will be instrumental in the decision making process.

Purpose of Section

• Carry out surveys and research required for land planning and building purposes.

• Prepare development plans to guide development activity.

• Receive and consider applications for the granting of planning permission.

• To administer the provisions of the Physical Planning and Development Act 2001.

• Forward Planning.

• Development Control.

• Consideration of planning applications for processing and the granting of planning permission.

• Executing data surveys and research required for land planning and building purposes.

Services offered to the public:

• Review and evaluate applications for development, which are to be sent to the Board of the DCA. This includes applications for residential, commercial, industrial and touristic development.

• Advise the public on matters pertinent to development and the submission of applications for development.

• Provision of the "Manual for Developers" with planning requirements and development standards.

• Receipt registration and processing of planning applications.

• Provision of advice on matters pertinent to physical planning and the submission of applications for development.

• Access to the planning register.

• Receipt and processing of complaints regarding unauthorized developments.

Method of Service / pre-requisites

Persons seek advice and also present their applications at the Front Counter where they are accepted by Front Desk staff and registered. The application is then routed, depending on its type, to a Planning Officer or a Building Officer. Each application is appraised through a process which includes site visits, evaluation against existing planning guidelines, technical committee meetings, and review by relevant referral agencies where necessary.

The internal technical sub-committees are made up of the technical officers of the department. The application along with technical staff's evaluation is then forwarded to the Board of the DCA. A final decision is made by the DCA Board based in part on the review and recommendations of the technical staff. The decision of the Board is communicated to the applicant by letter with any associated conditions.

NB: Some of the services provided are subject to applicable fees