9. LEVELS OF INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

Five categories outlining varying levels of infrastructure provision have been defined for residential developments. The objective is to provide more flexibility and choice in the selection of living environment and thus make land more affordable and accessible to lower income households. Essentially, the levels defined are based on a housing study done by PADCO in the early 1990s which suggested four possible levels of infrastructure provision. However, a fifth category (Level E) has been added in this manual in order to cover cases where retrofitting of development is found to be necessary.

Approval would be granted for the development of land to a specified category where the site falls within an area designated for that particular category in a development plan or other form of planning policy. This approach would eliminate the need to institutionalise a mechanism for ensuring compliance and upgrading to a standard level of infrastructure development, regardless of location of the lands or ability of prospective household to acquire housing land.  The approach would however place the onus for improving the services on the communities that agree to buy into developments with less than the highest development standards.

Level A:

  1. Paved roads with curbs, slipper drains and sidewalks
    2.
  2. Paved drainage, surface and underground
    3.
  3. On lot water supply
    4.
  4. Sewer collection system into municipal system (where exiting) OR
    5.
  5. Sewerage treatment plant, if no municipal sewage treatment system exists OR
    6.
  6. Septic tanks/ soakaway/ filter trenches where suitable.
    7.
  7. Fire hydrants
    8.
  8. Electricity supply and street lighting.

Level B:

  1. Paved roads with curbs, slipper drains and sidewalks
    2.
  2. Paved drainage, surface and underground
    3.
  3. On lot water supply
    4.
  4. Septic tanks/soakaway/ filter trenches
    5.
  5. Fire hydrants
    6.
  6. Electricity supply.

Level C:

  1. Roads with base course and compacted gravel surface
    2.
  2. Precast concrete invert drainage, grass verges
    3.
  3. On lot water supply
    4.
  4. Septic tanks/soakaway/ filter trenches
    5.
  5. Fire hydrants
    6.
  6. Electricity supply*.

Level D:

  1. Roads with base course and compacted gravel surface
    2.
  2. Paved culvert crossings and earthen drains
    3.
  3. On lot standpipe water supply
    4.
  4. Pit latrine or septic tank soakaway
    5.
  5. Electricity supply*.

Level E:

  1. Graded roads with gravel sub-base course and ensuring at least pedestrian access to each parcel.
    2.
  2. Earthen drainage
    3.
  3. Public standpipe water supply
    4.
  4. Pit latrine
    5.
  5. Communal facilities for parking and garbage collection.

Level E standards should clearly be applicable to retrofitting circumstances only and may be applicable only in specific situations.

Note:

Electricity Supply*:

For levels C – E, it is expected that an electricity supply will be provided eventually through community mobilization and liaison with the electricity company.