Town and Country Planning Circular Letter No. 17694/13 CP, 11.11.2013
The Directorate of Town and Country Planning, through the Commissioner of Town and Country Planning, issued Circular Letter No. 17694/13 CP dated 11 November 2013 to clarify the planning permission and technical concurrence powers of local planning authority offices and regional offices. Those offices may approve specified single block industrial, school and other educational buildings without a built-up area limit, while proposals containing multiple separate buildings on one plot must be sent to the head office for approval.
What the circular governs
Circular Letter No. 17694/13 CP dated 11 November 2013 concerns the delegation of powers to local planning authority offices and regional offices under the Directorate of Town and Country Planning. It clarifies which offices may grant planning permission or technical concurrence for certain industrial, school and other educational buildings.
The earlier wording referred to industrial buildings, school buildings with ground plus two floors, and other educational buildings with a total built-up area not exceeding 25,000 square feet, including existing buildings on the premises. Proposals exceeding that delegated limit were to be referred to the Director of Town and Country Planning.
Clarified approval powers
The Commissioner of Town and Country Planning clarifies that subordinate offices may grant planning permission or technical concurrence without any area restriction when all the following conditions apply:
- The development is on a single plot.
- Only one separate building, described as a single block, is proposed.
- An industrial building has ground plus one floor.
- A school building has ground plus two floors.
- Another educational building has ground plus one floor.
The removal of the area restriction applies only to the specified single block situations described in the circular.
Proposals requiring head office approval
Circular Letter No. 17694/13 CP requires a proposal to be sent to the head office for approval where multiple separate buildings, described as multi blocks, are located or proposed on one plot. Existing separate buildings on that plot must also be counted when deciding whether the development contains multiple blocks.
For example, a proposal for one new building does not qualify as a single block proposal if another separate building already exists on the same plot. The proposal must then be referred to the head office.
Who may be affected
The clarification is relevant to owners, buyers, developers and professionals dealing with planning permission or technical concurrence for the listed industrial, school and educational buildings. The key practical questions are the permitted floor configuration and whether the plot contains only one building or multiple separate buildings, including existing buildings.
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 regional office approve a single school building without a built-up area limit?
Yes. A local planning authority office or regional office may approve a single block school building with ground plus two floors on one plot without an area restriction.
Does the unlimited area clarification apply to an industrial building?
Yes, when the proposal is for a single block industrial building with ground plus one floor on a single plot.
What happens if there are several separate buildings on the same plot?
The proposal must be sent to the head office for approval. Existing separate buildings on the plot are included when determining whether the proposal has multiple blocks.
What floor configuration is covered for other educational buildings?
The clarification covers a single block other educational building with ground plus one floor on a single plot.
