Fast-track development agency likely to become permanent fixture
Published:Friday | April 29, 2011 | 12:00 AM
The agency that executes the fast-track process for the approval of development projects is likely to survive its one-year test phase, which wrapped up in March, its coordinator has said.
Hugh Gordon, the director of Development Assistance Centre (DAC), indicates that the agency will become a more permanent fixture with "continued government policy support".
The centre, initiated as a public-private-sector partnership to dramatically reduce turnover time on project approvals, was backed initially by the Jamaican Government, which put J$8.7 million into its start-up, and USAID, which contributed J$1.76 million.
DAC operates as a unit of the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), helping developers to prepare projects that meet technical and other requirements before their applications for building permits are placed before planning authorities for approval.
NEPA, which is the pre-eminent planning authority, says DAC essentially manages the process for the supply of information to developers for them to package and produce plans that accurately capture elements that planners require.
"This results in more efficient and effective processing of applications and supports the Government's 90-day approval process requirement," said NEPA.
"Projects within the development approval process system that are not moving with expected timelines are highlighted and reports made to the relevant agency/authority to get action for intervention that will support timely approval."
The centre handled 96 projects in its one year of operation, Gordon said.
Plan approvals traverse several tiers: local planning authorities or parish councils; the Town & Country Planning Authority; and NEPA, for environmental permits and licences.
Construction accounts for about 10 per cent of economic activity locally, and employs tens of thousands.
Only major projects, including subdivision applications for 10 lots or more, are expected to be routed through the DAC for pre-consultation assessment and advice and to ensure applications do not sit in in-trays at the various agencies required to comment or make recommendations on the plans.
DAC will handle "any project enquiry whether at conceptual or hard design stage," said Gordon.
The Government has signalled its intention to streamline and reduce the number of agencies involved in the planning approval process in a ministry paper tabled last year.
"The concept is to implement a two-tiered system to handling development applications. It is envisaged that the DAC will evolve into a 'development approval centre' over time," said Gordon.