Under a draft Law on Urban Planning, an urban center, including city, town and township recognized by the Government, is defined as a consolidated residential area with appropriate urban infrastructure, playing the role of promoting socio-economic development of a territory.
The draft law, with 53 articles in 7 chapters, sets new requirements on planning licenses. Specifically, before investing in projects, investors must apply for planning licenses for use as a basis for formulating detailed tasks and plannings.
Planning management agencies at all levels should also supply information relating to approved plannings upon people’s request.
The draft also requires work owners to apply for licenses for dismantlement of existing works, except makeshift or dilapidated structures or those subject to coerced dismantlement.
For land lots or works on a land lot smaller than 15m2, the State would not pay compensation in land or resettlement house but in cash at prices set by provincial-level People’s Committees at the time of land recovery.
Under the draft, the duration for making a detailed urban planning should be 3-5 years. Local people may participate in formulating and implementing urban plannings through public consultations.
Within 30 working days after an urban planning is approved, it must be made public by People’s Committees at all levels. Approved plannings must be displayed regularly in the form of drawings, posters or models at public places.
The draft law is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for discussion this October and passage in April 2009.-