GEORGE NEWS - Building plan submission and approvals, which plummeted during Covid-19 hard lockdown in the second quarter of last year, have slowly been recovering, prompting early optimism for partial recovery of related growth in 2021.
George Municipality Acting Director: Planning and Development Delia Power said the hard lockdown, which started in March 2020, resulted in a 75% drop in building plan submissions - from 434 in the first quarter (January to March) to 104 in the second quarter (April to June), but improved to 247 in the third quarter (July to September) and 381 in the last quarter (October to December).
“The decrease in building plan submissions can be attributed to the change of submission procedures incurred by switching from hard copies to an electronic submission system and due to the Covid-19 restrictions and uncertainty in world markets,” she said.
“The directorate focused on pointing applicants to the municipality’s online building submission portal, which had already been in place since February 2019, and amended processes to ensure that building plans could be assessed and approved by staff working from home or at the office and that processing could continue no matter the Covid-19 regulations of the day.
“The public and builders’ community have adjusted well to the changes and submissions, and approvals have steadily increased. While we are aware that Covid-19-related factors may impact numbers for some time to come, the directorate continues to streamline processes for good turnover times while ensuring efficient compliance to all building regulations.
“Submission and approval of building plans are good indicators of growth and investment in the George municipal area and shows confidence in the city’s potential. The ripple effect of such developments includes job creation in construction and related industries, after-build maintenance, and overall economic stimulation.
“While growth is good, the municipality remains mindful of impact on bulk infrastructure and the environment, which is considered and addressed in the George Municipality Integrated Development Plan,” said Power.
George Mayor Leon van Wyk said notwithstanding the challenges, the municipality remains optimistic and is heartened by the ongoing interest in George as the economic and government hub of the Garden Route.
“We are committed to service delivery in all aspects within the municipal mandate and believe the long-term outlook is good,” he said.
ONLINE SUBMISSION OF BUILDING PLANS
The link to the online portal for building plan submission is https://www.george.gov.za/planning-development/building-control/
Detailed instructions on how to use the portal can be downloaded as per the link or requested via e-mail at vnlaws@george.gov.za or agriessel@george.gov.za.
Administration-related enquiries: 044 801 9370 or 044 801 9166
Request of existing building plans (Registration Dept): pmlingani@george.gov.za / smoshani@george.gov.za / mdyakop@george.gov.za
Status on building plan approval: vnlaws@george.gov.za / agriessel@george.gov.za
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