Spatial Planning Act and Spatial Planning Standards

Client

Royal Government of Bhutan, Ministry of Works & Human Settlement,
Department of Human Settlement
Thimphu, Bhutan

Location

Bhutan

Period

2015

Project Description

The overall objective of the project was to improve planning in Bhutan through the preparation of a Spatial Planning Act and of a set of Spatial Planning Standards to guide the orderly physical and sustainable development of human settlements. The consultancy has supported the implementation of the relevant national policies. Specifically, the scope of services included the following two components.

Component 1: Spatial Planning Act – Draft a Spatial Planning Act to institute a comprehensive human settlement planning system, expected to address the following issues:

• establish the institutional and legal framework for the planning system in Bhutan;
• focus the legal powers to the Government to regulate preparation, implementation and administration of plans;
• determine the levels, categories and frequency of plans to be prepared;
• determine the procedure for preparation, approval and implementation of plans;
• provide for the adoption of relevant regulations, guidelines and standards.

Component 2: Spatial Planning Standards – Develop a set of Planning Standards to guide and set the minimum standards that can be applied to the planning and design of future human settlements.

The scope of these standards covered the road network; scale and intensity of development; provision of amenities; and public areas.

Scope of Services

Elaboration of (1) the Spatial Planning Act and standards, and (2) the Spatial Planning Standards.