+2 700 housing stands await Government approval n Bulawayo

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has made significant progress on several strategic planning initiatives, with multiple development plans awaiting gazetting and more than 2,700 residential stands pending approval from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

According to the latest council report, the local authority is advancing a series of Local Subject Plans (LSPs) and Local Development Plans (LDPs) designed to guide urban expansion, housing delivery and land-use management across the city.

One of the major achievements is the completion of the planning process for the former Ascot Racecourse area under Ascot Local Subject Plan 20. The plan underwent public consultation between November 5, 2025, and January 9, 2026, before being gazetted on May 1 and becoming operational on May 29 this year.

Council also reported progress on Local Subject Plan 18, which covers the northern section of Bulawayo's central business district.

"Local Subject Plan 18 (CBD Northern Areas) was adopted by council on 6 May 2026 and is awaiting gazetting," the report stated.

Local Development Plan 12, covering Bellevue, the remainder of Umganwini and Newton Township, has similarly been adopted and is now awaiting gazetting.

Meanwhile, the review of Local Development Plan 8, which focuses on industrial areas within the city, was adopted by council on April 1 and is currently undergoing public exhibition.

Work is also progressing on Local Development Plan 14, which encompasses the south-western suburbs of Burnside, Hillside, Waterford, Buena Vista, Sunninghill, Manningdale, Willsgrove, Matsheumhlope, Riverside, Lockview and Fourwinds.

"The draft written statement has been completed and stakeholder consultations have commenced," the report noted.

Under Local Development Plan 21, covering Northend, Paddonhurst, Sunnyside, Sauerstown, Rowena, Queens Park, Highmount and Tegela, council has completed traffic and household surveys. The findings have already been presented to policymakers and will be shared with external stakeholders before preparation of the written statement begins.

A similar process is underway for Local Development Plan 6, which covers Emganwini, Nketa, Nkulumane, Sizinda and Tshabalala.

The council report further indicated that data collection and stakeholder engagement continue under Local Development Plan 11 for Cowdray Park and the Norwood Tracks area. Traffic and household surveys have been completed, while preparation of the written statement is in progress.

BCC also revealed that five housing layouts comprising 2,760 residential stands are awaiting ministerial approval.

"These include 509 low-density residential stands in Bellevue, 1,320 medium-density residential stands in Umganwini Phase Three, 183 residential stands in Emganwini, 166 residential stands adjacent to Nkulumane Complex and 582 residential stands in Luveve North," the report said.

On the land administration front, council reported that title surveys for Killarney East, Highmount and the remainder of Umganwini have been completed and submitted to the Surveyor-General's Office for approval.

Progress has also been recorded on the Umvumila Integrated Layout project, where surveying work has reached 70 percent completion.

"The delay in completing the survey was due to obsolete survey equipment. New survey equipment has since been procured and the survey is expected to be completed by the end of May 2026," council said.

The developments form part of Bulawayo's broader efforts to improve urban planning, unlock land for housing development and support sustainable growth as demand for residential and commercial space continues to increase.