The eThekwini Municipality's human settlements department is currently engaged in approving building plans for the numerous residential buildings which were previously called hostels. Many of these residential buildings were built without the underlying zoning being changed to accommodate the land use on site.
The eThekwini Municipality highlighted developments around hostels and student accommodation facilities in its annual review of the municipality’s land use scheme in Durban.
At a council meeting on Tuesday, councillors approved the eThekwini Municipality Planning and Land Use Management Second Amendment By-Law, 2021 and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act No.16 of 2013; the annual review of the eThekwini Municipal Land Use Scheme (EMLUS), which comprises five planning regions: namely the central, north, south, inner west and outer west.
The municipality's motivation for the approval was that the annual scheme review ensures compliance with the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA). The reviewed land use scheme aligns with the Spatial Development Framework and responds to the ever-changing development pressures and trends within the municipality.
The review also helps the municipality respond to ongoing changes in legislation and legal matters that must be reflected in the scheme.
