TOWN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Bain Planning + Development (BPD) offers a full range of planning services. Through our extensive professional contacts and industry partners, we often work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to help deliver small, medium or large scale projects. We have experience in co-ordinating Environmental Impact Assessments and Environmental Scoping Studies for a wide range of projects including resort development, quarrying, solar energy, waste recycling and hospitals.
OUR SERVICES
Planning services offered by Bain Planning + Development include, but are not restricted to, the following:
- Planning applications – preparation, submission and follow-up work
- Discharge of planning conditions – leading to certificate of compliance
- Planning Policy – interpretation and advice
- Master Planning
- Site appraisals – to determine development potential
- Pre-application advice – sometimes involving meeting with planning officer and other agencies
- Due diligence – often required when purchasing land or property
- Planning appeals – submission of grounds of appeal
- Hearings – preparation and presentation of statements
- Enforcement – responding to Notices with legal input
- Changes of use
- Sub-division layouts (residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural
INVESTING IN BARBADOS
Local and foreign investors are often overwhelmed by the amount of bureaucracy and red tape which they encounter when embarking on a project. Due to our extensive knowledge of the planning and development process and our many professional contacts, we can assist clients through this process.
PLANNING IN BARBADOS
Barbados is a small island nation with a relatively large population density and limited resources. There is significant pressure for development in many parts of the island and the planning system seeks to balance the various competing interests while ensuring that the natural and physical environment is not compromised. The planning system is increasingly complex, multifaceted and time-consuming, which often requires skilled, experienced and professional help.
The principal planning legislation is the Town and Country Planning Act, Cap 240 together with its subsidiary legislation, the Town and Country Development Planning Order, 1972. Both of these have been amended since first being introduced.
The Act defines the meaning of development as:
“ The carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under any land, the making of any material change in the use of any buildings, or other land or the sub-division of land.”
Most planning applications are determined by the Chief Town Planner who will consult other Government departments and agencies before making a decision. Applications relating to beach front lands together with those relating to the subdivision of land over two acres are referred to the Minister for determination under Section 18 of the Act. The Minister is guided by the recommendations of the Chief Town Planner in making his decision and applicants are afforded the opportunity to Hearing if they are aggrieved by any aspect of the recommendation. Similar Hearing procedures are in place for referrals (appeals) to the Minister under Section 19 of the Act. There are presently no provisions in place to make written representations to the Minister under either Sections 18 or 19 of the Act.
Permitted Development also exists for certain classes of Development defined in the Town and Country Planning Development Order, 1972 and subsequent amendments. Permitted Development is subject to statutory conditions also listed in the Order.
The National Physical Development Plan (amended 2003) is the principal planning policy document for the Island. Many applications are assessed against the Plan, a review of which has commenced during 2016.
Other Legislation
Applications for planning permission for the erection of buildings or for changes of use of existing buildings are automatically referred to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) for separate approval under the Health Services (Building) Regulations, 1969. The EPD is primarily concerned with waste disposal, ventilation and in the case of commercial buildings, adequate provision of staff and patron facilities.
The Building Standards Authority (BSA) has been established to oversee the island’s building code. While legislation has still to be passed for it to fulfill its mandate, the Chief Town Planner consults the BSA on matters relating to fire safety and means of escape.
Other legislation/policy which interacts with the planning process includes Marine Control of Pollution Act 1998, the Coastal Zone Management Act 1998 and the Groundwater Protection Zone policy which was introduced in 1963 and revised in 1973.
HELPFUL LINKS
The following is a list of links to organisations and agencies operating within Barbados and beyond: