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When Prime Minister Mia Mottley was elected in May 2018 one of her first actions was to start a programme of radical planning reform in Barbados. The existing legislation was in its essence over 50 years old and pre-dated Independence. It operated in a closed and opaque manner and was seen as being at risk of corruption as well as being tortuously slow. The new Prime Minister stated that planning reform was “mission critical” as part of her overall programme to address the country’s severe economic problems and remove barriers to progress.

The Planning and Development Act 2019 aims to provide a system that is open, transparent, accountable, inclusive and efficient – fit for purpose in the context of a Small Island Developing State in the twenty first century. The legislation provides for a new Planning and Development Board that will consider complex applications while the majority will be delegated to the Chief Town Planner. A new Appeals Tribunal is also being established.
Innovative elements include a “provisional refusal” to allow for extra negotiation and “approval in principle” at the concept stage (replacing the traditional outline consent which is planning permission in law). The system is being opened up, with much more opportunity for public participation and public access to information. The new Act was passed by both Houses of Parliament in January 2019.

Barbados Town Planning Society (BTPS) has long argued the case for reform of the system and back in 2014 held a Symposium on Modernisation and Transparency in Planning. This was followed by publication of our Prospectus for Change in 2015 which set out detailed recommendations for reform.

Following the May 2018 General Election, BTPS worked with Government to deliver two stakeholder events in July 2018. The Prime Minister attended and spoke at both, showing how important she regards this reform. Both events were live-streamed. The Prime Minister then appointed a consultancy team consisting of three BTPS members and a specialist planning and environmental lawyer to deliver the new legislation. That team then prepared a Green Paper for consultation and BTPS submitted a comprehensive response. The consultancy team went on to draft a White Paper and produce a Bill for consideration by Parliament. The team also helped Minister Marsha Caddle MP (responsible for Economic Affairs and Investment) present the proposals at a final stakeholder review and on a radio call-in programme.

Remarkable progress has been made in a six month period. However, the work is not finished yet. The next stage is the drafting of a new Development Order, a new Use Classes Order and new Regulations to support the Planning and Development Act. There is also a need for a major training and culture change programme to support implementation of the new legislation. Ultimately, it is achieving this change in working practices and attitudes that will be essential to making a success of the new system.

Please see Planning and Development Bill 2018 – A Brief – White Paper which provides insight into the new Act.

Please note that as of the date of this post, the new Act is still to be proclaimed.

Planning decisions on beachfront and agricultural land have always taken too long but the system has been thrown into confusion following a legal decision by Madam Justice Cornelius.  As a result of the judgment all of these cases are no longer being dealt with by the Chief Town Planner but are being passed to the Prime Minister’s Office to be processed.  As the Prime Minister’s Office does not to our knowledge employ qualified Town Planners these applications are not currently being dealt with.  A solution needs to be found quickly or the system will grind to a halt.

BTPS Six Men’s Judgement press release revised

The Physical Development Plan Amended 2017, for Barbados is intended to provide a vision for sustainable growth and development of the nation by setting out policies to guide relationships among land uses, built form, mobility, community facilities and physical infrastructure. It is also intended to be a framework to facilitate and guide investment, both public and private, in Barbados to the year 2035 to advance a healthy, prosperous and resilient nation.

The Town & Country Planning Office will be accepting comments regarding the Draft PDP Amendment 2017 until 15th March 2017. Comments can be submitted to the email address pdp@townplanning.gov.bb or via the comment form on the PDP website (see link below).  The PDP can be downloaded in sections from there as well.

http://www.townplanning.gov.bb/pdp/

There are also a series of community meetings planned. See below flyer.

The RTPI will be celebrating this year’s World Town Planning Day (WTPD) with sister institutes and planners across the globe with a big programme of activity and the publication of a vital new guide, Delivering Better Development: The role of the urban and rural planner.

Aimed at non-planners including politicians, community leaders, architects, engineers, environmentalists and those interested in studying planning, the guide, written in conjunction with the Global Planners Network (GPN) , sets out a very powerful case for the part planning and planners can play in helping to tackle some of key challenges we face globally.

For more information, please visit the RTPI’s website by clicking here.

This  report  makes  the  case  for  transparency  and  modernisation  of  the  planning  system  in Barbados  on  economic,  social  and  environmental  grounds.    It  puts forward  a  Prospectus  for Action which sets out a roadmap for fundamental reform along with improvements that can be made immediately.

BTPS Transparency and Modernisation Prospectus_Final

The Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) is pleased to announce that Dyan Currie from Australia has been elected to the position of President.  At the recent CAP Business Meeting in Singapore Dyan was elected taking over the role from President Christine Platt from South Africa who has stepped down after eight years.  Dyan commences this role having just completed two terms as the National President of the Planning Institute of Australia.

As a major global institution representing over 35,000 planners world-wide CAP plays an increasingly significant role in the promotion of planning to tackle the challenges of urbanisation and in delivering sustainable human settlements.

On being elected as President, Dyan said:

“I wish to thank CAPs outgoing President Christine Platt for her amazing dedication to the association by serving for 8 years.  Planning is a global profession and one that unifies planners worldwide in our aim to commit to good planning outcomes that brings prosperity to our communities through the creation of great spaces and places.  

I strongly believe that planning is key to the future of productive, liveable cities and in the management of growth. I look forward to working with planners from around the world to demonstrate the value of planning and its ability to unlock opportunity to support prosperity now and well into the future.”

On behalf of the membership of CAP I would like to congratulate Christine on her appointment as an Honorary Vice President in recognition of her service to the members and the profession.”

Dyan will be supported by Clive Harridge CAPs Secretary- General and a team of Vice Presidents from around the Commonwealth:

• Christodoulos Ktorides – Vice President, Europe
• Yusuf Patel – Vice President, Southern Africa
• Indu Weerasoori – Vice President, South West Asia
• Dr. Larry Wolfe – Vice President, Americas
• John Lubuva – Vice President, East Africa
• Dr Steve Yirenkyi – Vice President, West Africa
• Dr Belinda Yuen, Vice President, South East Asia
• Bryce Julyan, Vice President, Australasia – Pacific

In addition CAP has appointed Viral Desai to lead CAPs Young Planners’ Network and Alicia Yon to lead CAPs Women in Planning Network.

CAP is a not for profit organisation which seeks to focus and develop the skills of urban and regional planners across the Commonwealth to meet the challenges of urbanisation.   CAP represents town and country planners from 24 countries throughout the Commonwealth.