Name of the Organization : Ministry of Lands and Housing
Type of Facility : Planning Permission Application Process
Country : Botswana
Official Website : http://www.gov.bw/
Planning Permission Application Process :
Planning permission is a requirement for any development of land irrespective of ownership.
Related : Ministry of Trade & Industry Apply For Manufacturing/ Industrial Licenses Botswana : www.statusin.org/5107.html
To acquire planning permission, an application is lodged with the responsible planning authority operating in the area/settlement where the development of land is to take place.
Steps towards granting of planning permission :
** Receipt and registration of the application which includes the location map, site plan and any other sketches and diagrams providing additional information about the proposal.
** Examination of plans to check conformity with all planning regulations.
** Consultation with all the relevant departments within the responsible local authority and other authorities depending on the nature of the proposal.
** Consideration of the application by the Physical Planning Committee.
Referral to the Town and Country planning Board (TCPB) with recommendations for all applications as outlined below :
** Type A developments referred to TCPB
** Type A developments are proposals that conform to approved development plan and/or development control code and/or a draft development plan of any part of the planning areas.
** All subdivisions
** Tree preservations and special buildings preservation
** All other applications for development which do not conform to the development plan, the development code and other regulations
** Change of land use
** Proposals that are considered of large scale
** More than 20 dwelling units
** A commercial development with a floor area of more than 500m2
** An industrial development with a floor area of more than 1, 000m2
** A single use of land greater than 10 hectares
** Registration of the applications for discussion in the pre-board meetings where technical issues are clarified and resolved and recommendations are made before the proposals are finally considered by the TCPB.
** Consideration of the applications by the TCPB
** The decisions of the TCPB are then submitted to the Minister for final decision.
** The decisions of the TCPB are subjected to a 14 days allowance period in which they can be varied by the minister.
** The decisions of the TCPB on the application are not to be revealed to the applicant and they only come into force when the 14 days period has elapsed.
** The Secretary of the Board then has to notify the applicant in writing about the decisions taken on the development proposal (application).
** In the event that the applicant is aggrieved by the decision of the TCPB could appeal to the Minister,
** The Minister in turn will make the final decision on the appeal with the advice of the professionals and this cannot be challenged further in any court.
Applications Type Checklist :
Application for development :
Required accompanying documents and Assessment Criteria :
** Prescribed application form, 3 sets fully completed
** Prescribed application fee
** Site plan of a scale not less than 1 :500 showing the location of the structure on the plot, set back, access road and adjoining plot
** Location plan to an appropriate scale sufficient to identify the site showing the land to which the application relates
** Any other additional relevant information and diagrams that may be required by the local authority
** Proof of ownership
Applications not complying with panning instruments :
** Prescribed fully completed application form
** Location plan of sufficient scale to identify the application site
** Site plan with all relevant information at a scale not less than 1 :500
** ** Applicant’s reasons why the application should be approved
** Proof of ownership
** 8 copies of elevation plans
Applications for change of land use :
** Evidence that adequate consultation with all relevant stakeholders including owners of surrounding properties has been done
** Proof that careful consideration of the likely impacts to the surrounding properties has been done
** Show whether the change of land use will impact on the development plan, and if so how
Application for subdivision :
** Prescribed 3 sets of fully completed application form
** Prescribed fee
** Location plan of scale not less than 1 :500 showing (i) whole plot and sub-divisions (ii) access to individual sub-divisions and (iii) any existing structures
** A letter stating the purpose for which the proposed sub-divisions are to be used
** Any other information and documents as the Board may require
Application for large scale development :
** Completed application form
** A letter explaining the development proposal
** Copies of response on essential consultations
** Location plan
** 8 copies of site plan
** 1 copy of elevations
** 1 copy of floor plan
Download Form : https://www.statusin.org/uploads/5206-Application_Form.pdf
Contact Details :
Head of Regional Office – Ms B.Phillime
Department of Town & Regional Planning,
Private Bag 16,Francistown.
Email : bphillime@gov.bw
Telephone Number : +267 2412966
Fax number : +267 2415817
Secretary – Mr. O. Okaile
Town and Country Planning Board
Telephone Number : +267 3914306
Email : ookaile@gov.bw
Head – Ms E. Mmono
Country Planning Division
Telephone Number +267 3956013
Email : emmono@gov.bw
Head – Ms. D. Khudu
Settlement Planning Division
Telephone Number : +267 3951087
Email : dkhudu@gov.bw
Head – Mr. M. Ketlhoilwe
Administration Division
Telephone Number : +267 3630778:
Head – Ms. N. B. Mmolawa
Cartography and Draughting Division
Telephone Number : +267 3911622
Email : nbmmolawa@gov.bw