Town planning is the process of managing land resources. It involves the control of existing and new developments, as well as strategy preparation to ensure manage future requirements. It is a dynamic process that changes in response to policy, development proposals and local needs.
On a broad level, these planning instruments deal with the type, location, and amount of land needed to carry out different functions of the city. They also serve to zone or reserve land for certain purposes such as:
- Residential, for buildings like apartment homes, single-family residences, and condominiums
- Commercial, for buildings like retail shops and office buildings
- Industrial, for structures like manufacturing plants and warehouses
- Municipal, for structures like police stations and courthouses
Purpose of Town Planning Scheme
Town planning schemes consist of a range of plans, maps, and controls to designate, administrate, and manage the land uses within the jurisdiction of particular municipalities. The planning schemes stipulate the zoning applicable to specific land areas and the activities that are allowed on the respective land areas.
Town Planning in South Africa
Kehilwe Sibanda – a Senior Professional Town Planner at My Nala Planners on what town planning is, the importance of consulting with a town planner before buying land, the difference between land use planning and strategic planning, understanding the Town Planning Scheme (zoning laws about what you can do with the land you have/intend on purchasing).
Homeowners seeking to increase their resale values by way of rezoning should carefully consider their options before starting a process they can’t reverse.
Listen to the full episode on the UNPACK Podcast
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What is town planning?
- The difference between land use planning and strategic planning?
- Town Planning Scheme
- SPLUMA: Spatial Planning & Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013
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More Information
My Nala Town Planners is a Johannesburg-based company, we do development applications in Joburg and Tswane. Contact us at kehilwe@mynala.co.za