CITY OF CAPE TOWN | 16 APRIL 2020
MEDIA RELEASE
City assisting development industry during the lockdown
The City’s Development Management Department is open for business during the national lockdown period. We are receiving and assessing building plan applications, and land use and development applications. Since the start of the lockdown to 9 April 2020, we have approved building work to the value of over R1 billion. This is to ensure that the development and construction industry can resume as soon as the restrictions are lifted. Read more below:
‘A very important aspect of our resilience in limiting the spread of COVID-19 is to also focus on efforts to support our local economy. It is uncertain for how long this lockdown will continue, but the City’s Development Management Department is working full steam to keep our economy going. We are receiving and assessing applications to ensure that the development and construction industry can resume business as soon as possible, once the restrictions are lifted. With R1 billion of plans approved, this means job creation opportunities for many of our residents. I want to thank Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt and her team for putting these measures in place to keep our economy going wherever possible,’ said the City’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato.
Since the start of the lockdown on 27 March to 9 April 2020, the City has:
#1 Approved 758 building plan applications, covering a floor area of 127 950m². The value of the imminent building work amounts to over R1 billion
#2 We have received 298 land use cases, inclusive of development applications, of which 200 have been finalized
‘Given that we have already approved building work to the value of R1 billion, we are ensuring that the industry can immediately commence with construction once the lockdown is over. I’m encouraging development professionals, developers and investors to continue submitting their applications via the City’s e-services portal. We will process these applications once we have received the payment, and as best we can, given the limitations during the lockdown period,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
This online portal has been available to residents and industry since 2015:
- Submissions can be made 24/7
- Submissions can be made from anywhere in the world, be it from your study or another country
- Applicants can monitor and track the progress/status of their applications at any time from any place
- It enables instant electronic communication between the City and the applicant during the assessment process
Those who have not yet registered for, or activated this service, can do so now. Click here to find out: How to Register for e-Services and submit an application using the Development Application Management System (DAMS)
Thanks to the DAMS the department can continue its business.
‘Currently, it seems that Cape Town is the only metro in South Africa that is open for business to receive and assess applications, which will make it easier for the construction and building sector to resume work once the lockdown has been lifted,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt
Applications, especially building plans, are likely to be processed quickly if they comply with the City’s Development Management Scheme. The more complex and intricate the application, the longer it takes to process.
Developers who are ready to discuss their applications with us can contact the department and request an online meeting.
‘I want to add that we are exploring more innovative methods and solutions during the lockdown period. These are being tested and if successful, we will include these in our processing systems in the future,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.
End
Issued by: Media Office, City of Cape Town