The Seberang Perai Local Plan 2030 (Rancangan Tempatan Seberang Perai 2030) is expected to be gazetted by October this year, marking a significant milestone in guiding the mainland’s future growth and becoming Penang’s first gazetted local plan.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the plan will provide a comprehensive framework for physical development, enabling more efficient land use while balancing economic growth with the needs of local communities.

Speaking after officiating the upgrading of the Taman Mangga public recreational park, Chow said the gazettement would serve as a key reference for future development, ensuring Seberang Perai evolves into a well-planned and sustainable urban area with orderly land use and balanced development.

He said the public exhibition process for the local plan has been completed, with the state government now entering the final stage before gazettement.

Once gazetted, applications for land use rezoning will be subject to a more structured and transparent planning process. While rezoning applications will still be permitted, they will no longer be considered on an ad hoc basis. Instead, proposals will have to comply with statutory procedures, including public exhibitions and public hearings.

Chow said the state also plans to review rezoning applications collectively, rather than individually as they are submitted. The reviews are expected to be conducted once every one or two years after a sufficient number of applications have been received.

According to him, the new approach will provide greater certainty and consistency in planning decisions while improving the overall management of development across Seberang Perai.

On the Draft Penang Island Local Plan 2030, Chow said the document is currently being revised after shortcomings were identified in an earlier draft. The revised plan will still need to undergo a public exhibition before moving to the next stage of the statutory planning process.

He expressed confidence that the Penang Island Local Plan would be completed well before 2030, possibly within the next year.

Chow described the completion and impending gazettement of the Seberang Perai Local Plan as a major achievement after years of planning, noting that it would provide greater clarity and confidence for developers, investors and the public while supporting more sustainable and coordinated development across the mainland.