Local bodies to permit 10k sq ft residential bldgs now

CHENNAI: Local bodies can now grant permission for building plan for residential structures up to 10,000 square feet and up to 8 dwelling units, not exceeding 12 metres in height (stilt plus three floors or ground plus two floors. Earlier, the local bodies were authorised to give permission for residential buildings within 7,000 sq ft area. After a representation from the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association (Credai) urging simplification of planning permission process for small buildings and to increase the powers of local bodies to grant permission, the Director of Town and Country Planning had requested the government to delegate powers to local bodies. Following this, Housing and Urban Development Department issued a GO in this regard. However, the power to grant permission for commercial buildings has not been altered. Local bodies can grant permission for commercial buildings with a total built up area of 300 square metres not exceeding 12 metres in height within Chennai Metropolitan area, while it is up to 2,000 sq ft of stilt plus two floors or ground plus one floor elsewhere in the State.