Planning authority cautions against unauthorised development

ROADTOWN Tortola BVI, January 30th, 2012  – The Planning Authority is reminding the public that it will continue to take firm action against unauthorised building development in the Territory.

This morning, the authority began demolition works to an unauthorised building development which was undertaken in Duff’s Bottom, Tortola.

According to Chairman of the Planning Authority Mr. Ian S. Smith, the unauthorised structure which projected on to the public road obstructed vehicular access. As a result of the unauthorised development, vehicles traversing the area had to leave the road surface to gain access to the surrounding properties.

The Planning Authority through the Town and Country Planning Department engaged a local company to demolish the unauthorised portion of the building and restore the site to the state it had before the breach took place. The costs are being borne by the land owner.

The demolition comes as a result of a directive issued by the Senior Magistrate in the case against the land owner. The action is also consistent with section 46 (1) of the Physical Planning Act, 2004 which states:

“If a person on whom a compliance notice was served, fails or refuses to take the steps required by the compliance notice to remedy the breach of planning control within the period specified in the compliance notice, the Authority may authorise the Chief Planner to enter the land with such assistance as may be necessary and take those steps in respect of the unauthorized development to enforce the compliance notice as it may see fit.”

The demolition, which is expected to take three days, includes excavating the foundation, removing all excess material from the site to the Pockwood Pond incinerator, and restoring the site to its original condition. Motorists are asked to use extreme caution when traversing the area.

The public is reminded that all development must be approved by the Planning Authority prior to its commencement to ensure proper land use and spatial development of the Territory through integrated land use planning and development control.

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