Building Development Control
What Are The Functions Of The Building Development Section?
The objective of the Building Development Control Section is to ensure that all building occupants enjoy a safe and comfortable environment that satisfies national environmental health, construction and land use standards. The Section seeks to improve construction standards and the habitable building environment for residential, commercial and industrial use. In an effort to regulate, monitor and control building development in Barbados, the Department enforces the Health Services Act, Cap 44 and the Marine Pollution Control Act, 1998-40. Legislation
Health Services Act, Cap 44
The Health Services Act, Cap 44 is responsible for the promotion and preservation of the health of inhabitants. Health in this sense does not only mean the absence of disease but includes the physical, mental and social well being of the inhabitants of Barbados. Under the Health Services Act Cap 44, the following Regulations are used to review applications:
- Health Services (Building) Regulations, 1969.
- Health Services (Bakeries) Regulations, 1970.
- Health Services (Collection and Disposal of Refuse) Regulations, 1975.
- Health Services (Disposal of Offensive Matter) Regulations, 1969.
- Health Services (Domestic Animals) Regulations, 1982.
- Health Services (Embalmers and Funeral Directors) Regulations, 1984.
- Health Services (Food Hygiene) Regulations, 1969.
- Health Services (Hairdressers) Regulations, 1970.
- Health Services (Lodging Houses and Barracks) Regulations, 1970.
- Health Services (Nuisance) Regulations, 1969.
- Health Services (Offensive Trades) Regulations, 1969.
- Health Services (Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Senior Citizen’s Homes and Maternity Homes) Regulations, 2005.
- Health Services (Restaurants) Regulations, 1969.
- Health Services (Swimming Pools) Regulations, 1969.
Marine Pollution Control Act, 1998-40
The Marine Pollution Act, 1998-40 serves to safeguard the marine environment from negative impacts generated from a number of inland sources. The quality of wastewater discharged from commercial and industrial establishments will be required to comply with the standards set out in the proposed Marine Pollution Control (Discharge) Regulations.
Building Development Application Process
The Health Services (Building) Regulations, 1969 require persons wishing to construct, extend, alter or change the use of a building to obtain the permission of the Minister of Health via the Director of the Environmental Protection Department. This legal requirement is independent of that requiring permission from the Town And Country Development Planning Office. Therefore permission must be obtained from both the Environmental Protection Department and the Town And Country Development Planning Office prior to commencing construction.
If an application is submitted to the Town and Country Development Planning Office a separate application to the Environmental Protection Department is not necessary since that Office is required by Regulation 3 of the Health Services (Building) Regulations, 1969 to submit copies of building development applications to the Environmental Protection Department.
In the case of proposals that do not require approval from Town And Country Development Planning Office such as internal renovations or alterations to approved structures, an application must be submitted directly to the Environmental Protection Department.
The review of applications considers the environmental health significance of the following:
- The layout of the building.
- Ventilation and lighting.
- Amenities.
- Drainage and waste disposal methods.
- Storage and method of disposal of hazardous waste.
- The environs of the site.
The booklet Guidelines For Submission Of Building Development Applications To The Environmental Protection Department prepared by the Environmental Protection Department, offers further details on the criteria used to assess building development applications and the information which must be submitted.