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Planning and Development Act (CAP. 154).

Country/Territory
Solomon Islands
Document type
Legislation
Date
1980 (2017)
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Long title
An Act for the administration of town and country planning in Solomon Islands, the making of Local Planning Schemes, the control and development of land and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
Subject
Environment gen., Forestry, Land & soil
Keyword
Climate change Hazards Erosion Flood Soil pollution/quality Pollution control EIA Forest species Soil conservation/soil improvement Basic legislation Agricultural land Authorization/permit Cadastre/land registration Classification/declassification Court/tribunal Data collection/reporting Enforcement/compliance Environmental planning Farming Institution Land commission Land tenure Land-use planning Local government Offences/penalties Ownership Precautionary principle Property rights Protection of environment Public health Right of use Subdivision of land Vested rights/existing rights Waste disposal Agricultural development Policy/planning
Geographical area
Asia and the Pacific, Least Developed Countries, Melanesia, Oceania, Small Island Developing States, South Pacific
Abstract

This Act lays down rules for the development and use of registered land in Solomon Islands in accordance with properly considered policies that are formulated on adequate information and are directed to promote the welfare of the inhabitants of Solomon Islands. A Planning and Development Board shall be constituted in each Province and in Honiara and may approve a Provincial Plan for the development of land in the province. Section 6 of this Act lays down the form and content of Local Planning Schemes and lists the purposes of the Local Planning Scheme, such as addressing any social, environmental or economic issues identified in a study carried out under section 8, including any risks to land uses and developments caused by climate change. For the purpose of preparing a Local Planning Scheme for any area of registered land, a Board must carry out a study to examine the matters that may affect the development of the area or the planning of its development, including the principal physical, environmental, social and economic characteristics of the area, and the information and data available in relation to the impact of climate change and natural hazards on the area. Part IV lays down provisions for class 1, class 2, class 3 and class 4 development of land, and application procedures for permission to develop land. The Minister may make regulations declaring any type of intensive or large-scale agricultural use of land to be developed for the purpose of this Part. Before deciding an application for permission to develop land, the Board must take matters listed in Section 16 into consideration such as: whether the land is susceptible, or likely to become susceptible, to any hazards to health or safety, including landslip, soil instability, soil erosion, flooding, storm surge, tsunamis, fire, pollution and contamination, and the environmental impact of the proposed development. Furthermore, this Act sets out provisions on appeal to the Planning Appeals Tribunal, revocation and modification of permission on Board’s initiative, enforcement of planning control, penalties for failure to comply with certain enforcement notices, tree preservation orders, nuisance orders, existing use rights, powers of the Board, offences and penalties, any notice or other document required or authorized to be served or given under this Act or under any regulation, and application to land regulated by special enactments. The Minister may make regulations for carrying the objectives and provisions of this Act into effect, including the control of the subdivision of land.

Full text
English
Website
www.parliament.gov.sb