Construction of houses above 300 feet on the hillsides in the Northern Range is now prohibited.

In a move designed to regulate hillside development and conserve the Northern Range as well as other parts of the country, Cabinet agreed yesterday to approve certain guidelines for hillside development of the Northern Range.

Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie said all areas above 700 feet or 250 metre contour as well as areas between 300 to 700 feet (with land classification between Grades 5 to 7) would now remain under "forest cover". Areas between 300 to 700 feet with land classification between Grades 1 to 5 would be devoted to agriculture, he said.

Speaking at yesterday's post-Cabinet news conference, Tewarie said buildings constructed outside of this policy would only be retained "provided that they conform with approval requirements". But such developments would not be allowed to expand, he said.

"Unauthorised developments" which were constructed outside of this new policy will have to be inspected, evaluated and a determination made, as to whether these buildings should be regularised ("that is to stay") or whether people would be asked to relocate. This decision would no doubt put all squatter homes built on the hillsides at risk as well as high income homes which do not meet Town and Country Planning guidelines.

"If (Town and Country Planning) permission was granted (for construction) and they are already there, we would try as far as possible to accommodate; if there are adjustments that might be necessary we would advise them (the owners) of it and try to enforce it. If there are unplanned, unauthorised developments we would have to make hard decisions about that," he said.

He stressed Government would execute this policy "not in any way that is oppressive or would make it hard on the population", but it would insist on enforcement of good practice. "Education, consultation and engagement, talking things through, would be Government's approach, he said. Tewarie said the determination on whether such developments would remain or be relocated would be guided by health, safety, environmental or aqua protection and regeneration concerns.

Tewarie said while Government was alert to the possibility there might be a politicisation of the process in terms of any opposition to the idea, it also felt the recent floods had given people a sense and understanding the denuding of the hillsides should not continue or be allowed to escalate. "We feel that the climate is better now in terms of environmental consciousness and that people have a general sense that there is something called the greater good and sometimes a small sacrifice can make a big difference," he said.

Asked whether Government would be assisting financially persons who have to be relocated, Tewarie said Government had taken a decision in principle and now had to have a strategy and consultative approach to make those things possible. "And to the extent that that is necessary we would begin the process," he added.

The Minister said Government planned to bring the Planning bill and to have a Land Use Policy and Physical Development plan for the whole country. "But while that is happening, we don't want to have a situation while Rome is burning," he said.