A residential community at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara, is facing potential safety risks from the unauthorised storage of more than 45 shipping containers on a lot approved for single-family residential use.
The Ministry of Housing and Water-Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has begun enforcement action against the activity after officers from its Enforcement Department visited the property over the weekend and found dozens of containers stacked on Parcel 1614, Plot B, Herstelling.
No one was present at the property when the inspection was conducted, the CH&PA said in a statement yesterday, adding that the use of the property for the storage of shipping containers is unauthorised and does not conform to the approved residential purpose of the lot.
The Authority has also raised safety concerns over the manner in which the containers are being stored, particularly given their location within a residential community. The presence of more than 45 containers, some of which are stacked, could pose risks to nearby residents and surrounding properties and raises questions about whether the site is suitable for such an activity.
Following the inspection, the CH&PA served a Notice of Contravention on the property, directing that all storage activities cease immediately. The property owner or occupier has also been directed to remove the shipping containers from the residential lot within this week.
The CH&PA reminded property owners and occupiers that any development, construction, change of land use or other activity on residential properties must comply with the relevant planning requirements and receive the necessary approvals before proceeding.
The Authority reminded that residential lots are allocated for specific purposes and cannot simply be converted into commercial or storage facilities without the requisite planning approval.
The CH&PA said it will continue to monitor housing schemes and take enforcement action against unauthorised development and activities that contravene planning regulations or the approved use of residential lands.
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