Physical Planning Act, 2016 (No. 17 of 2016).

This Act provides for the town and country planning at national, district and local level. It sets forth the provisions to prepare, approve and a deposit a plan and establishes an administrative framework for development planning. The Act also provides for development control and enforcement. It consists of 99 sections divide into 10 Parts.The Act establishes the Physical Planning Council and the Physical Planners Board. There shall also be a Commissioner for Physical Planning. The Commissioner shall be responsible for— (a) formulating national and regional physical development policies, guidelines and strategies; (b) preparing and reviewing the National Physical Development Plan; (c) approving district and local physical development plans and ensuring that such plans are in line with the National Physical Development Plan; (d) ensuring that local government authorities are properly executing physical development control and preservation orders. The Council shall be an appeals and advisory organ. A local government authority shall appoint a planning committee for its area of jurisdiction. The physical Planners Board shall be responsible for regulating the activities and conduct of physical planners registered in accordance with the provisions of this Act.The types of development permission that may be granted under this Act include, amongst others, an outline development permission and development permission for development anywhere in Malawi including within a land development control area and a subdivision permission for the subdivision of land within a subdivision control area.The Act also provides for (compulsory) acquisition of land and compensation for such acquisition.

Repeals: Town and Country Planning Act, 1988. (1988-11-01)