URA commences redevelopment projects in two districts to improve the built environment through replanning and rationalising land use
The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (Friday) commences the planning procedures of two redevelopment projects in the Central and Western District, and Tai Kok Tsui which will bring more planning and social benefits to the community.
At a media briefing to announce the projects, Executive Director (Commercial), Mr Michael Ma, said: “The two projects are implemented to meet the objectives set out in the 2011 Urban Renewal Strategy (URS) with a view to improving the built environment through replanning and rationalising the land use thereby enhancing the townscape of the project area.”
The two projects commenced today are the Queen’s Road West/In Ku Lane Development Scheme (C&W-006) in the Central and Western District by way of a development scheme under section 25 of the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance (URAO), and Oak Street/Ivy Street Development Project (YTM-011) in Tai Kok Tsui by way of a development project under section 26 of the URAO.
Outlining the redevelopment plan for C&W-006 project, Mr Ma said the project site covered a soccer pitch, which is part of the Li Sing Street Playground and was currently enclosed by the surrounding buildings, the In Ku Lane Refuse Collection Point and a public toilet. The URA intends to open up the land-locked open space through reconfiguration of various land uses. A new public open space of about 538 square metres connecting Queen’s Road West and In Ku Lane will be provided, enhancing greatly the accessibility and connectivity of the playground, and hence, better utilisation of the open space with improved neighbourhood walkability.
Meanwhile, the existing In Ku Lane Refuse Collection Point and public toilet, which will be re-provisioned in-situ and integrated within the future development, will be upgraded with better serviceability. Mr Ma added that the URA has preliminary discussed with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on the proposed re-provisioning of the recreational and public facilities.
With respect to the YTM-011 project which is adjacent to the Pine Street/Oak Street Demand-led Redevelopment Project (DL-3:YTM), consideration has been given to enhance the overall townscape of the area through coordinated urban design. Over the past years, the URA has taken a holistic approach in rejuvenating Tai Kok Tsui area by way of the Tai Kok Tsui Street Improvement Scheme where the pavement of a number of streets were repaved and widened with feature railing and greenery, complementing the URA’s redevelopment and rehabilitation works in Tai Kok Tsui. Mr Ma said the YMT-011 project will be benefitted from such improved townscape and urban design in its vicinity, meeting the objectives of urban renewal as stipulated in the 2011 URS.
Details and the proposed development parameters of the two projects are as follows:
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Queen’s Road West/In Ku Lane Development Scheme (C&W-006) |
Oak Street/Ivy Street Development Project (YTM-011) |
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Location |
Nos. 129 – 151 Queen’s Road West (odd number) |
Nos. 89 – 95 Oak Street (odd number) and Nos. 1 – 5 Ivy Street (odd number) |
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Total project area |
about 2,046 m² |
about 820 m² |
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Estimated number of property interests * |
67 |
64 |
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Estimated number of households * |
about 75 |
about 96 |
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Building age |
1966 – 1969 |
1963 – 1977 |
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No. of storeys |
4 – 6 storeys without lift |
6 – 10 storeys without lift |
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Proposed Development Content ** |
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Domestic GFA |
about 9,690 m² |
about 4,987 m² |
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Commercial GFA |
about 740 m² |
about 998 m² |
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Refuse collection point and public toilet GFA |
about 860 m² |
-- |
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Public open space |
about 538 m² (excluded from plot ratio calculation) |
-- |
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Estimated completion date |
2028/2029 |
2027/2028 |
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* Subject to the findings of SIA 2
** Subject to detailed design
In accordance with Section 23 of the URAO, URA notices announcing the commencement of the planning procedures of the two redevelopment projects are published in the Gazette today.
The URA will submit a draft Development Scheme Plan (DSP) of C&W-006 project including the Stage 1 Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report to the Town Planning Board (TPB) today. The Stage 2 SIA Report will also be submitted to TPB on 2 May 2018. The information will be available for public inspection at the specified Planning Enquiry Counters from the date as determined by the TPB. The abovementioned information will also be made available for public inspection at the URA’s Headquarters (26/F, COSCO Tower, 183 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong) and uploaded to its website (www.ura.org.hk) until the TPB considers the DSP. If the submitted draft DSP is deemed to be suitable for publication under section 5 of the Town Planning Ordinance after consideration by the TPB, it will be exhibited by the TPB for public inspection for a period of two months. During this period, any person may make representation in writing to the TPB in respect of the draft DSP. The approval of the draft DSP, as the case may be, will only be granted by the Chief Executive in Council after consideration of the representations on the draft DSP by the TPB.
A two-month publication period will also begin from today for YTM-011 under section 23 of the URAO. Within the period, a site plan delineating the boundary of the project plus a general description will be put on display for public inspection at:
- the URA’s Headquarters (26/F, COSCO Tower, 183 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong);
- Yau Tsim Mong Home Affairs Enquiry Centre (G/F, Mong Kok Government Offices, 30 Luen Wan Street, Mong Kok Kowloon); and
- the URA’s Urban Renewal Resource Centre (1/F, 6 Fuk Tsun Street, Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon)
Such information is also available on the URA website (www.ura.org.hk).
In accordance with the Urban Renewal Strategy, the URA will make the Stage 1 SIA report for YTM-011 project available for public information at the above venues and on the URA website from today while the Stage 2 SIA report from 2 May 2018, until 16 May 2018.
Also speaking at the media briefing, General Manager (Acquisition & Clearance), Mr Kelvin Chung, said the URA would proceed with acquisition of the properties and compensation/rehousing for the eligible tenants in accordance with the prevailing policies after the respective approvals from the Chief Executive in Council and Secretary for Development have been obtained.
Mr Chung added that the prevailing acquisition policy for domestic and non-domestic property interests, and the enhanced policies for ex-gratia allowance and rehousing to domestic tenants, as well as ex-gratia business allowance for non-domestic owner-occupiers and non-domestic tenants, which were approved by the URA Board in June 2017, are applicable to the projects.
About 80 URA staff members have been deployed today to conduct freezing surveys for the two projects to ascertain the actual number of households and the occupancy status of the projects.
The URA will arrange briefing sessions to explain to the affected owners and tenants the planning procedures and the acquisition and compensation arrangements. Two urban renewal social service teams staffed by professional social workers of Christian Family Service Centre (CFSC) and The Salvation Army (SA), which have been appointed by Urban Renewal Fund, will provide assistance to the owners and occupants in need in C&W-006 and YTM-011 respectively. The contact number of the social service teams are 2110 5861 (for CFSC) and 2117 8670 (for SA). Affected residents can also visit the URA’s Headquarters in person; or call the URA’s Hotline at 2588 2333 for enquiries. Members of the public can also visit the URA website at www.ura.org.hk for project information.
(ENDS)