Zoning guidelines, spatial planning preparation manuals unveiled
The Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) has unveiled a revised edition of its zoning guidelines and planning standards to equip local government actors with the tools needed for smarter, collaborative, and more effective planning.
The authority also released a revised manual for the preparation of spatial plans for metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs).
The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Odoley Sowah, who launched the two documents in Accra last Monday, said it would also provide a consistent approach to a nationwide spatial planning for the development of new areas or the redevelopment of existing ones.
The deputy minister urged MMDAs, planners, built environment professionals, academia, traditional authorities and development partners to adopt and strictly apply the guidelines.
Background
The spatial planning manuals were initially prepared in 2011, under the then Town and Country Planning Department, as part of the broader land administration reforms of the government.
However, with the passage of the Land Use and Spatial Planning ACT 2016 (ACT 925) and its subsidiary legislation, the Land Use and Spatial Planning Regulations, 2019 (LI2384), and the local government ACT, 2016 (ACT 936), it became imperative to revisit and revise the documents to align with the law, policy frameworks and current physical development trends.
Significance
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LUSPA, Dr Kwadwo Yeboah, said the zoning guidelines and planning standards played essential roles in promoting orderly and sustainable community development by separating incompatible land uses, protecting health and safety and guiding organised growth.
“The revised spatial planning documents present an opportunity to transform spatial planning practices in Ghana.
They provide direction and guidance to all stakeholders, particularly MMDAs in carrying out their spatial planning responsibilities,” he said.
Dr Yeboah explained that the review was to ensure that the framework aligned with key policies, plans and programmes of the government, such as the Ghana Infrastructure Plan and the 24-Hour Economy programmes.
He, however, expressed concern about the activities of planning institutions, particularly MMDAs, for their alleged negligence of duty, poor performance and unprofessional spatial planning practices.
