The Physical Planning Department is one of the departments of the Municipal Assembly and it is responsible for all physical settlements and spatial integration. The department makes sure that all physical buildings and spatial features are in a proper order and the necessary measures are put in place to ensure a well-organized spatial integration.

The long term objective of the department is to promote a sustainable, spatially integrated, balanced and orderly development of human settlements within the municipality.

Objectives

The department has laid down objectives it seeks to achieve. These objectives are:

• Promote a sustainable, spatially integrated and orderly development of human settlements
• Improve public awareness on building permit procedures
• Strengthen the human and institutional capacities for effective land use planning and management
• Restore spatial/land use planning systems in the Municipality
• Create database of streets and properties in the Municipality

The department has a core mandate which guides its operations. The department’s core mandate states that the Physical Planning Department is responsible for spatial planning and land use development, (Town and Country Planning Ordinance, 1945 “Cap 84”).