Invitation for Expressions of Interest for Development of URA’s Kwun Tong Town Centre Development Areas 4 & 5 Project

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) will invite interested developers / consortia to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the development of the Kwun Tong Town Centre Development Areas 4 & 5 Project (The Project) tomorrow (10 August 2022).

The Kwun Tong Town Centre Project is the URA’s largest single redevelopment project ever, with a phased redevelopment of five areas.  The Project, being the last phase of the redevelopment, covers a site area of 25,595 square metres. Upon completion, it will provide a maximum total gross floor area (GFA) of 201,220 square metres.

The Project will provide an iconic building complex with Government facilities and commercial development, not only enhancing the livelihood and economic vitality in the heart of Kwun Tong, but also serving as a new civic hub and gateway for the town centre to become a signature development in Kowloon East.  The Project will also provide government, institution and community facilities, as well as large-scale open space for public enjoyment.

As a planning objective to improve the overall environment under the master layout plan of the Kwun Tong Town Centre Project, the Project will improve the road network and traffic facilities in the area through re-planning and restructuring of land use, and enhance pedestrian connectivity between the Project and the recently completed Development Areas 2 & 3, as well as the surrounding areas within the district.

Taken into consideration the uncertainties brought by the ongoing pandemic and the latest market circumstances, the URA initiated a pilot arrangement of “floating planning parameters” in pursuing the tender of the Project.  Under the “floating planning parameters” arrangement, while keeping the total GFA remain unchanged, flexibility will be given to the successful developer / consortium to determine the actual GFA within specified ranges for office, hotel and other commercial uses ^[1] for the commercial portion, of which a minimum of 65,000 square metres of commercial GFA should be kept and situated at lower levels of the development to maintain its character of a “town centre” at the prime location of Kwun Tong district.

A planning application for implementing the “floating planning parameters” arrangement was submitted to the Town Planning Board (TPB) in July 2022 for consideration.  The URA will invite developers / consortia to tender for the development of the Project when the approval to implement the “floating planning parameters” arrangement is granted by TPB.

The successful developer / consortium will be required to construct the new development in compliance with the building design, standard and quality requirements, the environmentally sustainable provisions and smart provisions as set out in the development agreement of the Project with the aim of creating a sustainable living environment.

Information about the submission of the EOI for the Project will be available on the URA’s website (www.ura.org.hk) and published in several local newspapers tomorrow.  The Invitation Brochure for the Project can be obtained upon request from the URA’s Headquarters.  Developers / consortia interested in the development are requested to submit the duly completed and signed Reply Form, together with the required information to substantiate their development experience and financial capability to undertake the development in accordance with the requirements and criteria set by the URA.  All EOI should be submitted to the URA’s Headquarters at 26/F COSCO Tower, 183 Queen’s Road Central, by 12:00 noon on 7 September 2022 (Wednesday).  Any submission of the EOI received after the specified closing time as mentioned will not be accepted.

A tender review panel under the URA Board will consider all EOI submissions and shortlist qualified companies, which will be invited to submit tenders for the development later.