The Department of Planning in the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, has announced that it will provide support to the phased opening of the construction sector starting on Tuesday, May 19, as announced by Premier Alden McLaughlin at the daily press briefing today (Friday, May 15).

In the first phase, the Department will provide in-field inspection services for those projects with inspections pending since the implementation of the shelter in place regulations, transitioning to multi-family and commercial projects as these projects come back online.

Inspection staff will be tested, provided with personal protective equipment and will be required to adhere to safety protocols and social distancing guidelines. The Department of Planning will also introduce the use of virtual inspections to complement those efforts.

In commenting on the new development, Minister of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, Hon Joey Hew said, “The best way forward is a phased approach that allows the sector to gear up, as workers will need to be tested prior to commencement. Projects with final inspections pending requires the least amount of manpower and preparation to re-commence”.

For the period, March 25-May 13, the Department of Planning received 72 new applications for planning permissions, and 159 new applications for permits. The Department performed 660 permit-related and 158 planning-related plan reviews. A total of 93 permits valued at approximately $23.5 million, and 64 grants of planning permissions valued at approximately $33 million were issued.

Deputy Governor and Head of the Civil Service, Hon. Franz Manderson has commended the staff of the Department of Planning and the Ministry for all the work completed while staff members work remotely. “It is gratifying to see the civil service responding in an exemplary manner, our working from home capabilities have been ably demonstrated by the performance of the Planning department. I am delighted and proud of our civil service,” Hon. Manderson stated.

The Department’s transition to remote-working has been the early adoption of e-services in the form of the Online Planning System (OPS). This portal provides customers with the ability to submit for and receive planning consent and building control approvals from the comfort and safety of their homes.

Members of the public can access the Online Planning System at www.dop.secure.ky. Payment for the Online Planning System transactions can still be conducted through previously established credit accounts and credit/debit cards.

Customers seeking to contact the Department during this time are asked to use the following channels-

• Email [email protected] for general questions or queries.
• General/OPS queries:  345-936-6528 (calls only)
• Planning Application queries:  345-936-0285 (calls and WhatsApp)
• Permit and Payment queries:  345-936-0818 and 345-929-1078 (calls and WhatsApp)
• Building Control queries:  345-936-3800 (calls only)