The Land Use and Spatial Planning Act 2016

The Land Use and Spatial Planning Act aims to provide for sustainable development of land and human settlements through a decentralised planning system. It establishes processes to regulate national, regional, district and local spatial planning, and generally to provide for spatial aspects of socio-economic development.

The Act establishes the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (section 2), funded by a Fund of the same name (sections 20-24). One of the Authority’s aims is to “ensure the control of physical development in less controlled but sensitive areas such as forest reserves” through collaborations with relevant agencies such as the Forest Commission.

The Act ascertains that planning at a regional level (sections 25-29) and at district level (sections 30-41) is coordinated by Spatial Planning Committees, Councils and Authorities. The Act contains Spatial Development Frameworks at national (sections 49-51), regional (sections 52-54) and district (sections 55-60) levels, all of which include a strategic environmental assessment.

The Act includes sections on structure plans (sections 61-70), local plans (sections 71-82), zoning schemes (sections 83-103) and permits (113-125).