English Abstract
ABSTRACT:
Planning Permission (PP) Processes is a system of seeking requests of permit approvals
from the local authorities (stakeholders) during the planning stage of projects. This is
done to avoid any delays of coordination or conflicts which might happen with other
authorities during the implementation stage of projects and incorporate all of the
govemment's future project requirements which will be executed on the same location
in the future. Based on PP statistical data, it has been noticed that 59% of the PPs have
been pending for more than 300 days and only 10% pending for less than 50 days. This
means there are high delays on this system and is considered as one of the most
common problems causing delays in project planning stages. This study attempts to
investigate the factors that are causing the delays in the PP processes in roads projects
in the Kingdom of Bahrain about processing planning applications by the Roads Affair
to obtain approvals from the local authorities and the consultants. The study will help
improve the understanding of these factors and their impact on road projects. In order
to achieve the aim of the research, a literature review was conducted to identify the
initial contributing factors that cause those delays in the PP. Subsequently, a qualitative
technique was adopted by conducting eight interviews with experts to finalize the
initial list (semi-final) of these factors. Finally, a questionnaire based on the semi-final
factors list was used across some local authority organizations and engineering
consultants in Bahrain. A total of a hundred and one (101) questionnaires were
distributed. Eighty-Four (84) responses were received, which gave an answer response
rate of 83.2%. One-Sample T-Test and Bivariate Analysis were used as statistical tools
to analyse the comprised descriptive statistics. The survey results have found that the
most important factors that cause delays in the PP processes are the prolonged time to
reach an agreement on stakeholders' assets relocation and protection, insufficient Right
of Way (ROW) to accommodate all the stakeholders' requirements and needs, the time
required to investigate the existing utilities (trial holes, etc.) and, non-existence of
enforcement on the stipulated timeline (time frame) on the stakeholders' reviewers. A1l
these caused high effects on the efficiency, functionality, and economics of the
projects. Based on the survey's responses, the study provided several recommendations
that suggests some solutions which may help the local authorities to improve the PP
system with a proposed new timeframe (model) to complete the processes on the
stipulated timeline.
