James Kon
Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar launched Brunei Darussalam’s Planning Guideline for Strata Subdivision and Consolidation; the Planning Guideline for the Development of Schools and Childcare Centres; and one Supplementary Planning Guideline entitled Supplementary Planning Guideline for Strata Development (Residential) during the World Town Planning Day (WTPD) celebration at the Ministry of Development (MoD) yesterday.
WTPD is observed every November 8 by over 30 countries, to celebrate the importance of land use planning in development, while striving for a holistic, resilient and quality living environment, in line with shaping progressive society.
This celebration has been an annual activity at the MoD’s Department of Town and Country Planning since 2006.
The year’s theme ‘Quality Environment Through Planned and Integrated Development’, emphasises the importance of ensuring developments that are planned and integrated to achieve the strategic goals of land use planning in creating a comprehensive, quality and
resilient environment.
Two main components supporting the strategic goals of this year’s theme – prioritising the preparation of comprehensive, dynamic and relevant development plans to guide the planning of all developments and ensuring adequate provision of infrastructure for optimum usage of land, and emphasising the importance of strengthening coordination in development and enforcement through compliance of planning laws and rules, including collaboration with stakeholders and the public for a safe, high-quality and organised built environment.
Each planning guideline aims to assist government agencies, private practitioners, professionals and landowners in the submission of applications to the department, to ensure organised and holistic developments plans.
The supplementary guideline lists three planning incentives for new residential developments that landowners can apply for, provided they meet the criteria.
The preparation of these guidelines is among the contributions to urban planning, especially to open development opportunities in creating a built environment conducive to achieving the three strategic goals of Brunei Vision 2035.
Acting Commissioner of Town and Country Planning Marsita binti Omar said, “It pleases me to share the Department of Town and Country Planning’s initiative in reviewing the planning guidelines and standards for the 2011 edition of business development, along with the process of preparing new planning guidelines and standards for hotel development and a supplementary planning guideline for vehicle parking space in areas of development.
“Such initiatives are among the main activities in the development strategic plan aimed at strengthening the management process that takes into account the need for orderly and integrated diverse developments such as exploring areas of development to open up more economic opportunities, the preparation of attractive green areas, and the preparation of conducive areas to open up recreation towards building a healthy life.
This year, the department collaborated with the Department of Roads of the Public Works Department in illuminating the Sultan Haji Omar ’Ali Saifuddien Bridge and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge with five different colours for three successive nights, on November 7-9.
“These various colours represent the different planning zone colours used in Brunei’s development plans, to show the importance of having mixed and integrated developments for better quality of urban and rural landscapes,” said the Acting Commissioner of Town and
Country Planning.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Ar Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin, as well as Legislative Council members, permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Development, Chairman of the Municipal Boards, district officers, heads of departments, senior officers and land surveyors.