BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has received a detailed progress update on numerous ongoing spatial planning and development projects aimed at restructuring urban growth, formalising settlements and addressing transport and land-use challenges across the city.
According to latest council minutes, the town planning department outlined significant movement across several local subject plans (LSPs), local development plans (LDPs), layout designs and cadastral surveys, many of which are nearing final approval or gazetting stages.
A key milestone was the Ascot Local Subject Plan 20 (LSP 20), which covers the former Ascot Racecourse area.
Council noted that the plan underwent public consultation between November 2025 and January this year before it was gazetted on May 1.
The plan became operative on May 29, 2026.
Council noted progress on LSP 18, covering parts of the northern central business district, which has been adopted following public participation and is awaiting gazetting.
Similarly, LDP 12, covering Bellevue, RE Umganwini and Newton township, has been adopted and is also awaiting gazetting.
Further updates showed that LDP 8 (Industrial Area Review) has been adopted and is on public exhibition, while other major development frameworks — including LDP 14 (southwestern areas), LDP 21 (northern central areas) and LDP 6 (southern areas) — are advancing through various stages of consultation, surveys and stakeholder engagement.
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“These plans collectively cover a wide geographic spread of the city, including suburbs such as Burnside, Hillside, Waterford, Nkulumane, Nketa, Sizinda, Cowdray Park and surrounding northern settlements, reflecting a comprehensive effort to modernise land-use planning and infrastructure co-ordination,” the minutes stated.
The report highlighted the ongoing preparation of multiple residential layouts, including, B2 Bellevue (509 low-density stands), Umganwini Phase 3 (1 320 medium-density stands), Emganwini (183 stands), Nkulumane adjacent layout (166 stands) and Luveve North (582 stands).
Council said all layouts were awaiting approval by the relevant ministry.
“On land surveying, the council was informed that title surveys for Killarney East, Highmount and RE Umganwini have been completed and submitted to the Surveyor-General for approval.”
Meanwhile, the Umvumila integrated layout survey has reached 70% completion, with delays attributed to outdated equipment.
However, new survey equipment has since been procured, with completion targeted for end of May 2026.
During deliberations, councillor Dumisani Netha raised concern over escalating urban disorder, particularly around the central business district.
He cited congestion and illegal pick-up and drop-off points around key commercial areas such as 10th Avenue, Fort Street and 11th Avenue, calling for stricter enforcement of public transport regulations and compliance with service-level agreements.
Council agreed that improved planning should be matched by stronger enforcement to address growing transport chaos in high-traffic zones.
Following discussion, it was resolved that the report be received and noted.
