City continues to prioritise development applications and responsible municipal planning during lockdown
09 June 2020
The City has approved building plans to the value of R2,8 billion during the lockdown up until 31 May 2020. The City has assessed and approved 2 225 building plans during this period. The plans range from minor building work applications to larger developments. These projects may now commence as regulations for the construction industry eases.
The City’s Development Management Department has remained committed to assessing and processing planning applications during the lockdown period. Contractors and builders who have been granted the green light will be able to start work without delay as the regulations for the industry are lifted.
‘We are encouraged by the number of sound development applications we were able to facilitate and approve during the lockdown period. This will amount to hundreds of thousands of building contract staff who will immediately be able to start working once regulations allow. The construction industry as a whole will provide much needed job security at a time when it is needed the most,’ says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.
Since the start of the lockdown on 27 March up until 31 May 2020, the City has:
Approved 1 762 building plans comprising of less than 500m² each. The value of the imminent building work amounts to approximately R1,1 billion
Approved 463 minor work applications to the value of approximately R31 million
•Approved 78 building plans comprising of more than 500m² each. The value of the imminent building work amounts to approximately R1,7 billion
In terms of Land Use applications, the City has created 1 321 and managed to finalise 881 applications.
Further positive progress within the City’s development management realm includes Council’s recent review of the City’s Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) which it adopted in 2015 and deals with the final decision making processes on certain planning applications . Council has approved for the nine external MPT members’ term to be extended for another year and for the 16 authorised City officials to be appointed for another five years. These members all have the necessary knowledge and experience in spatial planning, land use management and the applicable law as required in both the MPBL and Spatial Planning Land Use Management Act.
Council also approved technical advisors to the MPT. These technical advisors are an invaluable support service to ensure the MPT functions effectively within the provisions of the applicable laws, procedures and Council policies.
‘The Municipal Planning Tribunal consists of highly experienced public and private sector planning professionals and we are very proud to have these technical advisors as responsible municipal planning remains the core of our approach to development,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
‘Over the past five years, the implementation of the MPBL and establishment of the MPT has allowed the City to consider all planning applications within a locally suited context and ultimately facilitates a more responsive development regulation in Cape Town,’ she concluded.
Development professionals, developers and investors are encouraged to continue submitting their applications via the City’s e-services portal. The applications will be processed once the applicable fees have been paid.
The online portal has been available to residents and industry since 2015:
Submissions can be made 24/7
Submissions can be made from anywhere in the world, be it from your study or another country
Applicants can monitor and track the progress/status of their applications at any time from any place
It enables instant electronic communication between the City and the applicant during the assessment process
Those who have not yet registered for, or activated this service, can do so now. Click here to find out: How to Register for e-Services and submit an application using the Development Application Management System (DAMS)
Applications, especially building plans, are likely to be processed quickly if they comply with the City’s Development Management Scheme. The more complex and intricate the application, the longer it takes to process.
Developers who are ready to discuss their applications can contact the department and request an online meeting.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
