LAHORE: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has disallowed the division of a plot/land of less than two kanals under its recently amended building and zoning rules-2008.

The rules, which have been amended by LDA’s governing body and approved in a recent meeting, will not be limited to Lahore alone, as the residents of Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts will also be liable to follow these keeping in view the expansion of LDA’s scope of work.

“The subdivision shall not be allowed for a plot of less than two kanal. The subdivision of two-kanal (836.55sqm) and above plot is permissible subject to the fulfillment of space requirements of original plot and a prior approval of the plan/map from the competent authority. And the resultant subdivided plot shall not be less than one-kanal (418.28sqm) with frontage not less than 35 feet,” reads the amendment introduced in the rules.

It says if any existing structure falls in mandatory space after subdivision of plot, it will have to be demolished within six months from the date of approval of the subdivision.

While discussing amalgamation of plots, the amended rules mention that in any zone two or more plots of the same uses may be combined for the purpose of constructing one or more buildings considering that the plots are owned by the same or multiple owners. If at any later stage the subdivision is again done, the building period charges will have to be paid for the subdivided plots from its original date of expiry of building construction period of approved plans. “For commercially converted plots, building regulations will be applicable as per policy of commercialisation,” the amendment reads.

The rules have also banned use of open spaces (not specified for parking purposes) by the building owners. For the purpose of calculating parking requirements, the gross floor area shall not include the area of mechanical plant rooms, air-conditioning plants, electric substation, space provided for prayers which shall not increase by 5 per cent of the total covered area of the building excluding the area under the use of ducts, service shafts, public toilets for common use, lifts, escalators, stairs, covered parking and circulation of vehicles.

“The lower ground floor/basement if used for car parking purposes shall be constructed after leaving 4ft (1.22m) space all around within the plot. Ramp may be provided in the mandatory open spaces in the basements subject to the condition that it shall not obstruct these spaces on ground level,” it reads.

For the construction of basement, the entire plot area can be covered subject to the provision of RCC piling along all four sides of the plot.

The lower ground floor/basement if used for usable purposes other than car parking shall be constructed after leaving all the mandatory open spaces as required under these regulations. In the parking basement non-usable areas such as generator room/water tanks/pumping stations/engineering services/transformer may be permitted subject to the condition that the area does not increase 10 per cent of the particulate floor area with proper enclosure.

“The rooms for security/emergency staff may also be permitted in parking basement which will not create any hindrance in parking. In case of provision of parking in basement, the parking space should be provided for both motorbikes and cars. Parking basement only for motorbikes will not be provided,” it points out.

The amendment has also bound the owners to surrender the setback area (front space) of their premises/buildings to the government for road widening in future if needed without any compensation.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2014