eThekwini Municipality reviews land use scheme to enhance student accommodation and hostel facilities
The eThekwini Municipality highlighted developments around hostels and student accommodation facilities in its annual review of the municipality’s land use scheme in Durban.
At a council meeting on Tuesday, councillors approved the eThekwini Municipality Planning and Land Use Management Second Amendment By-Law, 2021 and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act No.16 of 2013; the annual review of the eThekwini Municipal Land Use Scheme (EMLUS), which comprises five planning regions: namely the central, north, south, inner west and outer west.
The municipality’s motivation for the approval was that the annual scheme review ensures compliance with the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA). The reviewed land use scheme aligns with the Spatial Development Framework and responds to the ever-changing development pressures and trends within the municipality.
The review also helps the municipality respond to ongoing changes in legislation and legal matters that must be reflected in the scheme.
In the eThekwini Scheme Review 2020/2021, the scheme definitions, approval process and management layers surrounding the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College and the University of KwaZulu-Natal Medical School regarding student accommodation was highlighted.
The municipality stated that the current management layers have come under increasing pressure in recent years due to the high demand for adequate and safe student accommodation, which has resulted in the re-evaluation of the student management layer.
“The proposed changes are necessary to ensure an appropriate framework for encouraging compliance, registration and meeting the demand for adequate student accommodation within proximity of the educational institution,” the municipality said.
Amendments to the definitions of “basement”, “storey”, “Early Childhood Development Centre” and “Crèche”, are proposed to align with Provincial and National Legislation, as well as Court recommendations.
The municipal report stated that the municipality’s human settlements department is currently engaged in approving building plans for the numerous residential buildings which were previously called “hostels” developed in the 1960s and 1970s.
Many of these residential buildings were built without the underlying zoning being changed to accommodate the land use on site. To expedite the approval of building plans and the approval process of this important project, the affected properties will be zoned to the best underlying zone.
The municipality stated that the Land Use Management Scheme (town planning scheme) is a statutory planning document together with an associated set of maps used to manage and promote development within a municipal area.
Phoenix councillors highlighted infill housing projects where sports fields, playgrounds and open spaces are being developed. Alice Govender, ActionSA representative in eThekwini councillor, said there were non-existence bulk infrastructure upgrades in Phoenix.
“Private developments continue to be approved while tapping into old and frail water, sewer, electricity and road networks. No new civils have been done,” she said.
Dr Jonathan Annipen, IFP councillor in eThekwini, said the municipality must fully implement the recommendations of the Special Investigating Unit to restore public confidence in municipal development processes.
Democratic Alliance (DA) councillors Donovan Pillay and Samier Singh said they have consistently campaigned against the corruption, irregular property transfers, and slow accountability surrounding the Phoenix Infill Housing Project. Singh said that in January 2022, he put a motion in council regarding the issue but had not received a response, neither was any of the recommendations carried out.
The municipality stated that the review of the EMLUS is to ensure the alignment of terminology, processes and development standards across the municipality. Such review is based on the need to remain proactive to facilitate development and growing the municipality.
“The review also implements recommendations from planning projects undertaken in that year cycle and incorporates them into the scheme,” the municipality stated.
