What to Check in a Township Layout Plan

Is it the approved plan?

Ask for the layout plan with the approving authority’s seal and approval number, and compare it with the brochure. Brochure plans are often artistic impressions and can differ from what was approved.

What to look at

• Road widths: the width of the road in front of your plot affects access and how tall you can build.
• Open space reservation: parks and open spaces shown on the plan should be marked as reserved.
• Public purpose sites: land reserved for schools, health centres or utilities.
• Plot dimensions: check the frontage and depth, not only the area.
• Orientation: which way the plot faces, if that matters to you.
• Utilities: location of sewage treatment, water storage, transformers and drains relative to your plot.

Phasing

Large townships are approved and built in phases. Check which phase your plot is in, and whether the roads and amenities you are relying on are in the same phase or a later one.

Red flags

• No approval number on the plan.
• Open spaces shown in the brochure but not in the approved plan.
• Plots sold in an area marked for a future phase that is not yet approved.