Who decides
Development feasibility & site investigations matters for property in Alice and surrounding areas are dealt with by Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, in Eastern Cape. It forms part of the Amathole District, but the district municipality is not assumed to decide these applications.
| Municipality | Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality (local) |
|---|---|
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| District | Amathole |
Local requirements
The aim of development feasibility & site investigations is to understand what a property can realistically become before you buy or design. Common situations in Eastern Cape towns such as Alice include: before signing an offer to purchase.
Areas covered by Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality include Alice. Neighbouring municipalities in the Amathole District, such as Amahlathi, Great Kei, Mbhashe, Mnquma, Ngqushwa, are separate planning authorities with their own by-laws and schemes, so the correct municipality must be confirmed from the property's location.
Applications are made under Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality's Municipal Planning By-law, read with SPLUMA (2013) and the applicable land use scheme. Decisions are taken by an authorised official or the Municipal Planning Tribunal, with appeals to the appeal authority. Fees, documents and timeframes are set by Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality and change from time to time, so they are confirmed for each matter.
When you may need it
- Before signing an offer to purchase
- Before briefing an architect on a new development
- When comparing several candidate sites
The broad process
- Brief
- Desktop review
- Optional site visit
- Report and discussion
Documents commonly required
- Erf or farm description
- Any existing zoning certificate or plans
What affects cost
- Number of sites
- Depth of review
- Whether a site visit is needed
Professional fees, municipal application fees, advertising and specialist costs are quoted separately for each matter. Timeframes depend on completeness, objections, specialist work and municipal processing.
Questions
Which municipality handles development feasibility & site investigations in Alice?
Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in Eastern Cape is the planning authority for Alice. The exact property location should still be confirmed, as municipal boundaries do not always follow town names.
Does the Amathole District Municipality decide development feasibility & site investigations applications?
Not by default. Under SPLUMA, local municipalities such as Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality are their own planning authorities for most land-use applications.
What should I check before starting with development feasibility & site investigations in Alice?
Useful starting points are: Erf or farm description; Any existing zoning certificate or plans. Title deed conditions, servitudes and previous approvals should also be checked.