GIBRALTAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009

The Gibraltar Development Plan 2009 Plan takes effect immediately and replaces the previous 1991 Gibraltar Development Plan.

The new Plan provides the framework for land use planning in Gibraltar for the next decade. It provides a long-term vision and certainty on how Gibraltar will develop over this period.

The Plan has been produced following two rounds of wide public consultation. The first took place in August 2007 when the Consultation Draft Plan was published. As a result of comments received during this consultation period, the Draft Plan was amended and a second consultation exercise took place in April 2009 in relation to the proposed amendments. Having considered the comments made in relation to the proposed amendments, the Development and Planning Commission then submitted the amended Plan to the Chief Minister for approval as required by law. This approval was issued on 25 September 2009.

The new Plan comprises a suite of inter-related documents:

Parts I and II:

Part 1 - General policies - sets out planning policy in relation to a variety of topics;

Part II - area specific policies and proposals - Gibraltar has been divided into nine land use zones and specific policies and proposals formulated for each of these.

The Old Town Plan - although one of the above-mentioned zones, the importance and complexities of the Old Town require a specific area plan. In the future other specific area plans may be produced for other zones where this is considered necessary.

The Old Town Design Guide - provides detailed policy guidance on design within the Old Town.

The Plan has been subjected to an assessment of the likely environmental effects at a strategic level. This assessment was carried out by an independent environmental planning consultant at periodic stages of the plan-making process and the findings are published in the Final Environmental Report that accompanies the Gibraltar Development Plan. In addition, a Post Adoption Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Statement has been prepared that summarises how the SEA process has influenced the preparation of the Plan. This document is also available for public inspection.

The Minister for Development the Hon Joe Holliday said "I am delighted to be able to launch the Development Plan 2009 today, after considerable hard work by the Planning Division. It is an excellent document that has been produced in-house, after very wide public consultation, where every stake holder has had an opportunity to input their views and recommendations. The Plan places much emphasis on improving the standard of design in all new development, whether small or large scale. It also encourages a more sustainable approach to development through energy-efficient design and use of micro-renewable energy generation, although this has to be balanced against aesthetic considerations and potential impact on surrounding users.

"The new Plan also encourages the improvement of public access to the waterfront wherever the opportunity arises. In particular, development proposals on the waterfront will be required to provide waterfront promenades."

Sites throughout Gibraltar are identified for various types of development. In some cases, proposals for development of these sites are relatively well advanced and are likely to come forward early on in the life of the Plan. In other cases, development proposals have not been formulated and these sites are more likely to come on stream later in the life of the Plan.

The Gibraltar Development Plan can be viewed at the offices of the Town Planning Division, Suite 631, Europort, Gibraltar, or at www.gibdevplan.gov.gi. Copies of the Plan can be purchased at a cost of £50 per copy. Alternatively, an electronic version is available on CD at a cost of £10.

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