NEW MBABANE TOWN PLANNING SCHEME DEVELOPMENT AIMS TO ADDRESS EXODUS OF BIG BUSINESSES

MBABANE – Over the years, Mbabane, in particular, the CBD has experienced stagnant growth, lack of available vacant plots for new developments, urban blight, and general urban decay.

This phenomenon has further led to an exodus of corporate businesses and State-owned entities to other newer towns, where vacant land is available for establishing their corporate headquarters. In that regard, the Municipal Council of Mbabane (MCM) seeks to prepare a strategic document to further focus on the revitalisation of the CBD and its immediate surrounding zones using the inner-city urban design framework, which largely comprises of the commercial, light industrial, recreational and public facility zones. A South African consultant firm, Markewicz Redman Partnership has been earmarked to undertake the preparation of the new Mbabane Town Planning Scheme and the Inner-City Urban Design Framework.

Scheme

These planning documents are separate but are intricately intertwined. The current Mbabane Town Planning Scheme 2016-2026 will soon lapse and, therefore, there is a need for a new scheme for the next 10 years to replace the current one. Following a competitive bidding process, Markewicz Redman Partnership emerged the best evaluated bidder, surpassing the local VIP-Cadre which was technically non-responsive. The proposed contract price for this tender is E 2 759 655. The preparation of the Town Planning Scheme is a legislative requirement, hence the need to prepare the compliant scheme. The Town Planning Act, No. 45 of 1961 states that for every local authority established in terms of the Urban Government Act, No. 6 of 1969, there shall be a Town Planning Scheme developed and approved by the minister responsible for local government affairs.

The Town Planning Scheme is in terms of the law, with a fixed period of operation and the law provides for interim reviews and scheme amendments, while new schemes are developed once the period of operation lapses. According to Section 21 of the Town Planning Act 1961, an approved scheme may be varied, modified or revoked and Section 21(4) provides that every approved scheme shall be reviewed periodically, at intervals of not more than 5 years. The current scheme has not been reviewed since its approval in 2016. Notwithstanding the legal requirements, MCM has found it necessary to prepare a new TPS that will address the current city challenges and operational challenges of the existing TPS.

Development

The purpose for the town planning scheme is to ensure co-ordinated and harmonious development of the urban area, including where necessary the identification of new growth areas, new spatial development opportunities, reconstruction and redevelopment of any part of the city.  The scheme will effectively promote transportation connectivity with new and existing proposals, good public health through land use management, amenities, convenience, general public welfare, as well as efficiency and economic growth in the process of spatial developments.

It is worth noting that the current scheme does not address how council should deal with applications for rezonings, in the event the application or property is owned or initiated by the council. The current processes assume that application will only be made by external parties. It also does not have a live or systematic means or tools for updating applications and changes and conditions issued to applications. The current filing and records keeping needs to be improved, in order to have a live reliable system and such as system needs to link with the GIS and or information system of council.

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