Development plans under the land use planning ordinance

Abstract

The word 'development plan' is mentioned only once in the Land Use Planning Ordinance and therefore there are various ways in which its purpose, as envisaged by the Legislature, is interpreted.
Because the mention is given in brackets within the definition of structural plans, it is clear that development plans are intended to be part of structural planning. Unlike in the case of British planning, and in accordance with strategic plans as used by Port Elizabeth Municipality; Development Plans appear to be an implementation strategy. This is in line with development plans as proposed in the Natal Plans Package. Otherwise, development plans can also be seen as detailed plans for physical development, but the latter interpretation is apparently not the purpose as contemplated by the Ordinance. From Port Elizabeth's experience it appears that a development plan is needed for each level of planning. In a hierarchical system, problems may arise because changes usually take place when general planning is done after detail planning. Any change that creates a detailed plan to a statutory structure plan will only have to be processed as an amendment to the structure plan, with provincial approval, which may cause delays.