Currently, land use regulation, land survey services, and research and development promotion fall under the purview of the Department of Planning. It also makes it easier to coordinate cross-cutting issues and climate change adaptation, as well as to formulate and implement policies. The department’s specific duties include the following:
- Supporting the formulation and application of policies.
- Carrying out spatial planning to help with property development and management.
- Creating and keeping up the roll for council properties and land developments’ valuations. carrying out property appraisals in order to establish rental and lease agreement values.
- Surveying the land in order to create maps.
- Supplying technical assistance regarding the effects of planned development projects on the environment. granting authorization for planning.
- Inspecting infrastructure developments to make sure that approved plans are followed and to prevent illegal construction.
- Helping to maintain the housing and properties owned by the council. directing the district’s unplanned settlements’ renovation.
- Coordinating the adaptation to climate change, gender mainstreaming, and other intersecting issues. tracking and assessing projects that are planned. encouraging innovation and research.
Land Aquisition Procedures
Through print media, the Council notifies the public about available plots. The Council’s Plans, Works, Development and Real Estate (PWDRE) Subcommittee invites qualified candidates for interviews and selection. Successful applicants are then given provisional letters of offer by the council, which also helps the Full Council approve the land allocation process. Successful applicants are then served with demand letters for payment of the service charge. For the processing of title deeds, the Ministry of Lands receives recommendations from successful applicants.
Procedure for Obtaining Planning
If someone wants to carry out a development, they must submit an application in Form II to a planning authority along with the following attachments and a prescribed fee.
1.) A copy of a certificate of title
2.) A letter of offer from the Ministry responsible for lands;
3.) A record of payment of ground rent;
4.) in the case of an improvement area, a copy of an occupancy licence or a certificate of title issued under the Act; or
5.) where the land is located within customary land, a letter signed by the Chief which confirms that the land has been allocated to the applicant;
6.) where the applicant is not the owner of the land or structure, a letter from the owner authorising the applicant to make an application for planning permission
Sections
Physical Planninng Section
In order to monitor and control different facets of land use and development, the Physical Planning Section is essential. To guarantee efficient urban development, the Section carries out particular tasks under the direction of the Chief Physical Planner and with assistance from the Town Planner, Buildings Inspector, and Land Surveyor:
- Makes it easier to create and carry out physical planning regulations that direct development and expansion.
- Carries out land surveys to create precise maps and ensure precise spatial information; does spatial planning to support orderly development and control of property within the jurisdiction.
- Inspects infrastructure developments to prevent illegal construction and make sure approved plans are being followed.
- Makes it easier to upgrade settlements, which enhances living conditions.
To make operations more efficient, the section is further divided into three units.
- The Town Planning Unit is in charge of regulating land use and controlling development.
- Buildings Inspectorate Unit, which is in charge of managing inspections and offering building-related technical assistance.
- Land surveys for accurate mapping and boundary definition are handled by the Survey Unit.
A thorough approach to physical planning is ensured by this organizational structure, from the creation of policies to field inspections and surveying operations.
Units
Town Planning Unit
The Town Planning Unit is essential in guaranteeing structured and intended growth within its area of responsibility. Guided by the Town Planner and aided by Assistant Town Planners, the Unit performs designated tasks focused on efficient development oversight and regulation of land utilization:
- Enables development projects to follow authorized plans and guidelines by granting planning permission.
- keeps the town’s development under control by stopping unauthorized construction and upholding legal requirements.
- Educate communities about the importance of planned development by implementing awareness campaigns.
- Aids in the demolition of buildings constructed illegally in order to preserve adherence to authorized plans.
- Organizes initiatives to improve settlements, which helps to raise living standards.
With a town planner leading the team and assistant town planners providing assistance, the unit’s organizational structure guarantees a targeted and effective approach to overseeing and controlling town planning operations.
Building Inspectorate Unit
A building inspector leads the Buildings Inspectorate Unit, which is responsible for supervising and guaranteeing the completion of construction projects. Specific duties assigned to the unit are intended to uphold adherence to authorized plans and stop unlawful construction.
- carries out examinations on infrastructure projects to ensure compliance with authorized plans and guidelines.
- offers building-related technical support, offering insightful information to help create development plans.
With a Building Inspector in charge, the unit is in a good position to fulfill its duties and guarantee the security and adherence of construction projects under its purview.
Survey Unit
A land surveyor leads the Survey Unit, which is crucial in supplying the necessary land survey services to make map creation easier. To guarantee accurate and trustworthy land survey data, the unit performs a number of tasks.
- carries out land surveys in order to make beaconing and boundary creation easier.
- creates layout plans to make the distribution of land easier.
The Unit assists in the precise mapping and demarcation of land borders under the direction of a qualified land surveyor, facilitating efficient land use planning and allocation procedures.
Social Economic Section
The Socio-Economic Planning Section is essential to the coordination, development, and evaluation of institutional plans and policies in order to create a strong foundation for the successful execution of projects and programs. The department is also responsible for overseeing and assessing the execution of the program to make sure that the established objectives and targets are met. Its particular functions cover a wide range of tasks, such as:
- Plans and policies and oversees their creation and execution.
- Oversees the yearly budget preparation process.
- Creates proposal for projects to efficiently mobilize resources.
- Organizes the creation of yearly reports and other records to aid in well-informed decision-making.
- Offers expert assistance on the effects of planned development projects on the environment.
- Provides secretariat services to the Committee for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
- Investigates the effects of developmental activities on environmental and socioeconomic issues in order to produce information.
- Handles cross-cutting issues, climate change adaptation, and gender mainstreaming coordination. ensures the success of planned projects by monitoring and assessing them.
Ensuring financial accountability, promoting sustainable development, and addressing important socio-economic and environmental factors are all made possible by the Socio-Economic Planning Section.
Physical Planning Section
The Physical Planning Section is essential to the supervision and control of many facets of land use and development. The Section carries out particular tasks to guarantee efficient urban development under the direction of the Chief Physical Planner and with assistance from the Town Planner, Buildings Inspector, and Land Surveyor.
- makes it easier to create and carry out physical planning regulations that direct development and expansion.
- carries out land surveys to create precise maps and ensure precise spatial information; does spatial planning to support orderly development and control of property within the jurisdiction.
- Conducts inspections on infrastructure developments to ensure compliance with approved plans and mitigate illegal construction.
- makes it easier to upgrade settlements, which enhances living conditions.
