Not in my backyard: strategic infrastructure projects and the decision-making criteria to be applied to land-use planning applications

Includes bibliographical referencesSouth Africa’s National Development Plan can be described as an ambitious document that recognises the need for much needed infrastructure development in South Africa. The strategic infrastructure projects (“SIPS”) which are identified in the National Development Plan as being required to propel economic development in South Africa, have been listed in an equally ambitious piece of draft legislation in the form of the draft Infrastructure Development Bill. Through a number of initiatives this Bill is aimed at fast tracking strategic infrastructure development. However, it remains to be seen whether this draft legislation will pass Constitutional law scrutiny in its passage through Parliament. What is clear, however, is that the South African Government recognises the need for infrastructure development and appears to be determined to fast-track the development of strategic infrastructure projects in South Africa