Getting answers on building plans seem to be largely ignored

I HAVE been following the articles in your paper regarding approval for building plans and can only reiterate the writers’ problems in obtaining timeous approval.

Below is a typical repeated request which most officials at the council ignore.

It is truly pathetic and affecting developers and applicants badly in terms of wasted time and resulting costs.

If one pushes too much there is the danger of being even more ignored or the application being turned down. Some people say the only way is to lubricate the process by providing some sort of “incentive”.

As a young architect it took me two weeks to walk the plans for the 100 000m² large Cape Town Civic Centre through to approval.

Today it will take you a month to get approval for a new guest WC in an existing house if you are lucky. Thomas Geh Thomas Geh Architects

Good morning Marx

This application was submitted in October last year; some required amendments to the application were made in December last year, advertising took place and we responded to only two identical objections on February 22, 2018.

Since than we have enquired often as to progress made and being told that the application is receiving attention and that a report to the MPT is being prepared to be signed off by yourself.

Would it be possible for you to answer my client’s request below? Kind regards Thomas Thomas Geh Architects

CASE 70374824 Erf 1455 Camps Bay June 13, 2018 Good morning Mr Ngendahimana, I trust you are well. I visited you last Thursday June 7 in your office and you asked for an e-mail to be sent today.

I would like to find out how it is going with our building application. When can we expect an answer? As I told you, my husband is now 75 and we would like to have the building work done as soon as possible and before we are to old to handle all the stress around construction work.

We also plan to built a new staircase, not so steep as the old one and a lift, as we are getting older and getting up and down the old steep stairs is quite a challenge.

Looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Kind regards Marion Baden Camps Bay June 14, 2018 Dear Marion The application is receiving attention. You will be notified as soon as the report is signed off. Yours sincerely Kajabo Ernest Ngendahimana, Professional Officer, Development Management, Hertzog Boulevard

June 14, 2018 Dear Ernest, Thanks for your mail. Sorry to bother you again. Could you please be so kind and give me a rough idea when that will be. Many thanks Marion