IN an apparent bid to overcome obstacles limiting the city's growth and open its doors to urban renewal schemes, the Lagos authorities have endorsed the new proposals for the review of Ikorodu, Epe and Issa Williams urban master plan.The new proposals are courtesy of the Ministry for Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD), targeted at infrastructural renewal, sustainable urban planning and development. For instance, in the case of Ikorodu, the plan will cover six Local Development Areas (LDAs) to create growth poles and focal points, redesign some villages and review existing land use as well as seek to revitalise the Ikorodu industrial scheme.Under the Issa Williams urban renewal master plan, the state is planning redevelopment/modernisation of Lagos Island West and the Issa Williams neigbourhood, increasing the economic base of the neighbourhood, improving the urban fabric of the area and impose character, increasing residential and commercial densities as well as improving traffic and reducing stress among its citizens.Among the projects being contemplated by the government are the Ebute Ero Ferry Terminal and light rail station and the Adeniji Adele Waterfront improvement as well as Apongbon/Ebute Ero link road construction and expansion. Others envisaged within the scheme as public-private participation include redevelopment of CMS Harbour Park into public plaza, Robo parking and re-development of former Bank of Industry into a City University campus.Similarly, the projects will also include development of Legion, a 21-floor mixed-use scheme, Issa Williams Gateway and Balogun Gateway Plaza, comprising of a 17-floor mixed-use scheme and high-rise building respectively. It will also feature Apongbon Suites, where existing building is to be converted into transient residential uses.Speaking at the Ministerial Press Briefing held at Alausa Press Centre recently, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, a town planner, hinted that the Ikorodu Master Plan is being re-awarded to a consulting firm of town planning.According to Ayinde, the plan when completed, would make provision for a counter magnet for absorbing population from the densely populated areas, providing employment opportunities, housing and recreation network of interconnected transport system.He said that the Epe regional plan that had also received bids from unmentioned consultants would cover the whole old Epe Division that comprised of the present Ibeju, Lekki, Agbowa and Eredo local development councils.'The proposed Epe Master Plan is aimed at opening and unlocking the potentials of the state, by directing development northeastward,' he said, noting that the ministry was at the stage of pre-qualifying the consultants before awarding the contract.'Just like the Ikorodu and Epe master plans, the Issa William is also aimed at creating a compact city which is capable of free more land for recreation and greenery,' Ayinde said. He added that an implementation committee has been set up to ensure compliance with the plan.Meanwhile, Ayinde informed the gathering that the ministry had demolished 129 buildings found to be defective and shut down another 620 buildings across Lagos, He said that the buildings fell short of the approved standard and had to be demolished by the government in order to avert disaster.'The Lagos State Planning Permit Authority received 289 applications for vetting of technical reports. Out of this number, a total of 226 applications were cleared. In the area of enforcement, a total of 15,216 notices were served as against 16,280 in 2010.This is made up of 6,864 contravention notices, 3,348 stop work orders, 3,941 demolition notices, 425 quit notices and 638 seal up notices,' said the commissioner.He added further that these steps had enabled the authority to detect contraventions at early stage for prompt removal. Similarly, 129 buildings were demolished while 620 were sealed for various offences in the year under review, he disclosed.On the development guide plans for excised villages, Ayinde said that the government, in its bid to ensure equity, fairness and preservation of indigenous settlements, had excised over 300 villages within government acquisitions.'One of the conditions for obtaining development permits in such excised villages is an approved layout. Most of the over 300 excised villages are yet to obtain such approvals. In order to facilitate the preparation of such development guide/layout, the ministry is organising preparation of plans for the excised villages in partnership with private sector.'The commissioner also said that there had been a review of Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City Plan, saying that the plan prepared in 2006 was currently being reviewed to respond to the social and economic realities in the area.He stated that the review would incorporate the up-coming Eko Atlantic City, the Eko Hotel and Kuramo axis, among others, while new development, such as Intercontinental Hotel project, Ozumba Mbadiwe-Falomo Ramp and their impacts would also be examined within the Model City Plan as the ministry would engage all stakeholders in the review process to ensure an acceptable plan.
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