CDA Clarifies Status of Amenities Land in Private Housing Schemes

The Capital Development Authority has clarified that the transfer of amenities land in private housing schemes will be decided strictly in accordance with the regulations that were in force at the time the relevant layout plans were approved. The clarification was issued following a meeting at the CDA headquarters chaired by the Member Planning and Development, aimed at resolving confusion caused by differing interpretations of housing regulations over the years.

According to the authority, planning standards for amenities, including parks, public buildings, graveyards, and roads, have changed under multiple regulatory frameworks since 1992. As a result, sponsors of private housing schemes will now be required to transfer Amenity and Public Building Areas based on the specific regulations applicable to each approved phase of a project. Where a housing scheme has been approved in parts under different regulatory regimes, the transfer obligation will be applied separately to each portion rather than uniformly across the entire project.

The CDA explained that only the land approved during a particular regulatory period will be subject to the planning standards and transfer requirements of that time. For example, phases approved between 1992 and 2020 will require the transfer of full amenities land as per the rules then in force, while extensions or revised layout plans approved under later regulations will be governed by the reduced transfer percentages introduced in subsequent frameworks.

Officials said the clarification is intended to remove inconsistencies in implementation, avoid disputes during future approvals, and ensure a transparent and uniform application of planning rules. The move is expected to standardize enforcement practices and bring greater clarity to the approval process for private housing schemes across Islamabad.