20 June 2019
A new Head of Planning and Development Control, Ismail Mohammed , arrived on the Island on Saturday, 8 June 2019, to take up his new post in the Environment, Natural Resources & Planning Directorate (ENRPD).
Ismail is contracted for three years and his role is to lead St Helena Government’s (SHG) Planning and Building Control Division. This involves all aspects of development management, decision making and reporting to the Land Development Control Authority, the review of the Land Development Control Plan and preparation of other development plans. He will also supervise the Building Control function and will review the Building Standards Regulations designed to raise standards of new developments on the Island.
Since starting work on 11 June, Ismail has begun to review the current procedures assessing development proposals and the quality of the planning applications that are submitted for planning permission and building consent, as well as how reports are made to the Land Development Control Authority for decision making.
Ismail said:
“The workload in the Planning and Building Control Division is immense and I want to get down to setting out a future work programme in line with business priorities of the Government.
“In a modern and responsive planning and development process, there is a role for the public to influence the future development on the Island and therefore I am keen to ensure that there is local engagement in the future spatial planning and place making process. One of the main assets of the Island is its natural heritage and environment and the challenge is how we all work together to ensure that we provide opportunities for future development, promoting economic growth and prosperity for the Islanders whilst protecting and enhancing the natural environment and heritage and also improving accessibility.”
Acting Director of ENRPD, Darren Duncan, added:
“We are pleased to have Ismail join the Directorate’s Planning and Building Control Division. Ismail comes with an array of planning and development knowledge and experience that will stand him in good stead to develop and improve the planning and building control services the Division provides for its clients. He joins a small and dedicated team providing important services to the community on behalf of the Government.”
Ismail is very positive about his role and about St Helena. He concluded:
“I am very proud and honoured to be offered this position on St Helena. In the short time I have been on the Island I already feel at home in my new environment. I have a very positive outlook to life and I bring that into my work. I have been made to feel at home by my new colleagues and the local people and I am looking forward to making a positive impact in the future prosperity of the Island.”
Ismail is a chartered town planner and a corporate member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He has over 30 years’ experience in planning and development that has covered all aspects of planning including development control, strategic and spatial planning, conservation of the historic and natural environment, urban design, regeneration and most importantly implementation and delivery. Ismail has worked for a number of local planning authorities in England and has vast experience of dealing with local planning issues and in the delivery quality planning service. His last position was with Buckinghamshire County Council as Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Manager, where he was responsible for preparing the Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.
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SHG
20 June 2019