Bulawayo tightens industrial land controls

Bulawayo is moving to tighten control over industrial land while seeking to unlock under-utilised sites for productive use under a new 15 to 20-year planning framework.

The proposed Local Development Plan 8 (LDP 8) seeks to protect industrial areas from incompatible developments while guiding the redevelopment of existing sites and future investment across the city.

The plan has completed its public exhibition without any adverse objections and is now set for adoption and gazetting.

According to a report by the director of town planning presented to council on July 3, LDP 8 will provide the "binding statutory policy framework" for the management, redevelopment and orderly growth of Bulawayo's industrial areas.

Rather than focusing primarily on opening up new industrial land, the plan places emphasis on protecting existing industrial areas and making better use of vacant and under-utilised sites.

Among its key objectives are to "protect and rationalize industrial land" and "unlock under-utilised industrial sites for productive use."

The strategy could significantly influence how land is used in Bulawayo's industrial zones, particularly in areas where industrial, residential, commercial and institutional activities compete for space.

The town planning department said the plan would help "ensure compatibility in land use relationships between industry, housing, institutions and commerce."

This means future developments in and around industrial areas will have to conform to a broader framework aimed at limiting conflicting land uses.

LDP 8 covers six industrial categories: service, light, light/service, general, warehousing/storage and special industry.

It also seeks to coordinate industrial land use with transport, infrastructure, environmental management and development control.

Transport corridors are another key focus, with the plan seeking to protect routes considered critical to the movement of goods and materials.

One of its objectives is to "protect transport corridors and facilitate effective and efficient movement of materials and goods through rail, roads and air."

The strategy is intended to ensure industrial developments remain connected to the infrastructure required to move goods, rather than being planned separately from the city's road, rail and air transport systems.

Infrastructure constraints are also addressed in the plan, with proposals to guide upgrades to roads, water, sewerage and electricity while supporting economic re-industrialisation.

The report says the strategy is intended to "enable economic re-industrialisation while managing environmental impact."

At the same time, the city intends to prevent industrial expansion from creating conflicts with surrounding communities and other land uses.

LDP 8 also proposes support for micro, small and medium enterprises and emerging industries through appropriate zoning and infrastructure provision.

The industrial land strategy forms part of a broader effort by the town planning department to prepare local and subject plans in line with the city's Master Plan.

The Report of Study was prepared following surveys and desktop research into existing land uses, public utilities, traffic conditions, public transport systems and statutory development controls.

The Written Statement containing the policy proposals was presented to policymakers on January 20, while external stakeholders were engaged on February 13.

Council subsequently adopted the Written Statement and Report of Study on April 1.

The draft plan was then placed on public exhibition from May 8 to June 19, with interested individuals and organisations given until July 3 to submit objections or representations.

However, according to the town planning report, "there were no adverse comments received for Local Development Plan No. 8 at the end of the public exhibition period."

Council has now resolved to recommend adoption and gazetting of the final draft of LDP 8 in terms of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act and relevant regulations.

The plan identifies approximately 1 242.5 hectares of industrial land that could potentially be unlocked, with about 50 000 employment opportunities projected if the strategy is fully implemented.

The proposed framework is therefore expected to play a significant role in determining how Bulawayo manages its industrial land, infrastructure and economic development over the next two decades.