Act N° 10 of 2014 - The Planning and Facilitation of Development Act - Trinidad and Tobago

In this Act, the expression “development” means— 

(a) the act of— 

(i) carrying out demolition, building, engineering, mining or other perations in, on, over or under any land, whether or not covered by water, and whether or not used for agriculture, forestry or aquaculture; 

(ii)  making any material change in the use of any building or other land; and 

iii)  subdividing any land; 

 

The principal functions of the National Planning Authority are to

(a)  facilitate good and sustainable development in a fair, transparent and equitable manner; 

(d)  develop regulations, standards and practices for building, engineering operations and land development and submit them for the approval of the Minister; 

(e)  monitor and oversee the preparation of development plans by planning authorities to ensure consistency with the National Spatial Development Strategy; 

 

In the performance of its function under paragraphs (b) to (d), the National Planning Authority shall consult with the Tobago House of Assembly. 

The Minister may give to the National Planning Authority, in writing, general policy directives to be followed in the performance of its functions or the exercise of its powers under this Act, and the National Planning Authority shall comply with those directives. 

The Tobago House of Assembly and a municipal planning authority shall, on its own motion or in accordance with directions in writing from the National Planning Authority, prepare, and thereafter review as often as necessary and in any event at least once every five years, such regional, local and other development plans for such regions and areas within their respective jurisdictions and on such subjects as would assist in the efficient and equitable planning and management of land. 

The primary focus of any regional or local development plan prepared under subsection (1) shall be the detailing, coordination and implementation of the National Spatial Development Strategy at the regional or local level, as the case may be.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— 

“local development plan” means a plan that interprets broad structure plan policies at a district or community level in great detail; 

 

A development plan shall contain goals, objectives and policies established primarily to manage and guide change in the social, economic and physical environment of the area for which the development plan is prepared. 

a)  a review of the physical, social, economic and environmental characteristics of the area and the available social services; 

(b)  a description of those matters affecting or providing opportunities for the development and use of land; 

(c)  a land-use plan showing— (…)

(d)  such maps, drawings and other graphic representations, and such data, proposals, descriptive matter and other information, as may be necessary to illustrate, explain and provide a reasoned justification for the policies and proposals of the development plan; 

(e)  recommendations for the sequencing or phasing of development within the area covered by the plan; 

(f)  in the case of a local or regional development plan, matters pertaining to particular conditions addressed with a greater degree of detail; 

(g)  a description of proposed measures and programmes for the attainment of the objectives of the plan and estimates of the resources needed and likely to be available for their implementation; 

(h)  an assessment of the quantity and forms of housing required and estimated to be required in the future by various socio-economic groups, or by that part of the population living or expected to live in the area described in the development plan; 

(i)  a transportation plan showing the generalized location of proposed major roads and other transportation facilities; 

(j)  a utilities plan showing the generalized location of areas which it is proposed to service with water, waste-water, electrical, gas, telecommunications or other services; 

(k)  an environmental impact statement incorporating a systematic environmental appraisal of policies and proposals having environmental implications as an appendix to the development plan; and 

(l)  such other matters as may be prescribed.