ENG-1996 — Page 270

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

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OZPs are intended to show the broad land-use framework of specific area, including the major roads and other transport systems, and provide statutory planning controls such as specific development parameters within the concerned areas. DPA plans, on the other hand, are less comprehensive and definitive than OZPs. They are interim plans to be replaced by OZPs. In areas covered by DPA plans and their replacement ÖZPs, the Planning Authority can take enforcement actions against unauthorised development.

In 1996, four new OZPs to replace DPA plans were published, and 15 existing plans were amended by the TPB. At the end of the year, there were 89 OZPs (34 of them replacing DPA plans) and one DPA plan.

Under the Town Planning Ordinance, any person affected by the statutory plan, including the LDC development scheme plans, can lodge objections with the TPB. In 1996, 476 objections to the draft plans were lodged, and 2 736 objections (including those brought forward from the previous year) were considered. Draft plans, together with amendments made to meet objections and unwithdrawn objections, will be submitted to the G in C for approval. In 1996, five OZPs, four DPA plans and two LDC Development Scheme Plans were approved.

Attached to each statutory plan is a set of notes indicating the uses which are always permitted and uses for which the TPB's permission must be sought in particular zones. In 1996, the TPB considered 870 applications for planning permission and 101 reviews of planning applications.

Guidelines are formulated by the TPB to help applicants submit planning applications. The TPB has promulgated 14 sets of such guidelines and has published an annual report since 1990.

The Town Planning Appeal Board, a body independent of the TPB and government departments, was set up in 1991 to deal with appeals lodged by applicants who feel aggrieved by the decisions of the TPB upon review of their planning applications. Including those cases brought forward from the previous year, the Appeal Board heard nine cases in 1996, of which one case was allowed and eight cases were dismissed. Eight cases were abandoned by the appellants.

Departmental Plans

Apart from statutory plans, the Planning Department also prepares departmental outline development plans (ODPs) and layout plans (LPs) for individual districts or areas to show the planned land uses, development restrictions and transport networks in greater detail. At the end of the year, there were a total of 85 ODPs and 331 LPs.

Enforcement

Under the Town Planning Ordinance, no person should undertake or continue a development in a development permission area unless the development was a use in existence before the gazetting of the relevant Interim DPA/DPA plans, or is permitted under the DPA plan or the replacement OZP, or has been approved by the TPB. Any development that does not satisfy any of these criteria is an unauthorised development.

The Planning Authority may serve notices on the respective land-owners, occupiers and responsible persons, requiring them to discontinue the unauthorised development by specified dates unless planning permission for the development is obtained, or

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