Circular on Public Purpose Reservations in Layouts Approved Before DCR
The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning issued Circular Roc. No. 16853/2013/Spl.cell, dated 13 January 2014, allowing the available site width and site extent of Public Purpose Reservations in layouts approved by the Town and Country Planning Department before the Development Control Regulation came into force to be considered for public building approval. The relaxation applies only where the setback requirements under the Development Control Regulation are not violated, and it took immediate effect.
What the circular governs
Circular Roc. No. 16853/2013/Spl.cell, issued by the Commissioner of Town and Country Planning on 13 January 2014, deals with Public Purpose Reservation sites in layouts approved before the Development Control Regulation came into force. It provides guidance for considering public building applications where those reserved sites are smaller or narrower than the minimum dimensions normally required under the Development Control Regulation.
Why clarification was needed
The Development Control Regulation requires public building sites to have:
- A minimum site width of 25 metres.
- A minimum site extent of 892 square metres.
These requirements apply to public buildings such as community halls, Kalyana mandapams and school buildings. Some Public Purpose Reservation sites in older layouts approved by the Town and Country Planning Department do not meet these dimensions because the layouts were approved before the Development Control Regulation came into force.
Decision for older approved layouts
The Empowered Committee decided that the actual site width and site extent available for a public purpose in a qualifying older approved layout may be considered when processing a public building approval.
The key conditions are:
- The layout must have been approved by the Town and Country Planning Department.
- The layout approval must predate the Development Control Regulation coming into force.
- The application must not violate the setback requirements under the Development Control Regulation.
- The available Public Purpose Reservation dimensions may be considered even when they are below the stated minimum site width or site extent.
The circular directs planning authorities to follow the Empowered Committee's decision in future and states that it comes into force immediately.
Who may be affected
Circular Roc. No. 16853/2013/Spl.cell may affect owners, developers and organisations proposing community halls, Kalyana mandapams, schools or other public buildings on Public Purpose Reservation land in older approved layouts. It also guides Regional Deputy Directors, Member Secretaries, Local Planning Authorities and New Town Development Authorities when considering these applications.
This summary is generated from the source document to help you find what is relevant. The PDF above is authoritative. For advice on your own property, use LandLens One or speak to a qualified professional.
Common questions
Can a Public Purpose Reservation site smaller than 892 square metres receive building approval?
It may be considered if it is in a layout approved by the Town and Country Planning Department before the Development Control Regulation came into force. The proposal must not violate the setback requirements under the Development Control Regulation.
Does the circular remove the setback requirements for older layouts?
No. Public building approval may be considered using the available site dimensions only where the setback requirements under the Development Control Regulation are not violated.
What types of public buildings are identified in the circular?
The circular identifies community halls, Kalyana mandapams and school buildings as examples of public buildings.
Does the relaxation apply to every undersized Public Purpose Reservation site?
No. It applies to Public Purpose Reservation sites in layouts approved by the Town and Country Planning Department before the Development Control Regulation came into force.
