URA Commences Redevelopment Project in Kowloon City to Create Greater Planning Gains through Holistic Planning with Approved Adjoining Development Scheme

The Urban Renewal Authority (URA) today (9 August 2024) commences the Ma Tau Wai Road / Lok Shan Road Development Project (KC-020 Project) in Kowloon City and proceeds with the relevant statutory planning procedures. Through integrated planning and design, the KC-020 Project will create synergy with the adjoining Kau Pui Lung Road / Chi Kiang Street Development Scheme (CBS-2:KC Scheme) approved earlier, bringing extended planning gains to the area.

At the media briefing today, General Manager (Planning and Design) of the URA, Mr Mike Kwan, remarked, “The KC-020 Project is implemented to achieve the objectives set out in the 2011 Urban Renewal Strategy.  The Project will amplify the planning gains through holistic site planning with the adjoining CBS-2:KC Scheme which is one of the pilot projects to redevelop buildings under the Civil Servants’ Co-operative Building Society (CBS) Scheme.  The integrated planning and design will improve the connectivity and accessibility of the area, as well as enhance the overall built environment and cityscape.  In order to create synergy between the two projects, the URA has started to explore the feasibility of integrated planning for possible combined development in future when it commenced the CBS-2:KC Scheme in 2020 under the ‘planning-led, district-based’ urban renewal approach.”

The KC-020 Project will integrate with the spatial design of the planned open space / at-grade pedestrianised avenue in the CBS-2:KC Scheme to enhance visual comfort and pedestrian environment. Besides, through the existing pedestrian-crossing facilities at Ma Tau Wai Road and the CBS-2:KC Scheme, the KC-020 Project will enhance connectivity with the government, institution, or community (GIC) and open space clusters such as Lok Shan Road Sitting-out Area, To Kwa Wan Market and Government Offices to the east of Ma Tau Wai Road; and the residential clusters such as Lok Man Sun Chuen to the west after restructuring and redevelopment.  Subject to further technical feasibility study, the KC-020 Project will extend the proposed underground shopping street under the CBS-2:KC Scheme into the Project and potentially connect to the nearby To Kwa Wan MTR station exits.  Furthermore, the KC-020 Project proposes to share a vehicular run in/out with the CBS-2:KC Scheme to minimise the impact on the pedestrian environment and maintain a continuous shop frontage and street vibrancy.

Under the notional design, the KC-020 Project will contribute an additional provision of about 11,830 square metres of domestic gross floor area, 2,360 square metres of commercial/ retail facilities and an ancillary carpark to the combined urban renewal project.  Through redevelopment, the two projects will provide a total domestic gross floor area of about 135,600 square metres for new buildings of modern standard, to improve the overall living environment of the neighborhood.

In accordance with the Urban Renewal Authority Ordinance, a URA notice announcing the commencement of the KC-020 Project is published in the Gazette today.  A two-month publication period of the KC-020 Project will commence today.  A site plan delineating the boundary, a general description of the Project, and the Stage 1 Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report prepared by the URA for the KC-020 Project will be made available from today for public information.  The Stage 2 SIA Report is scheduled for public information from 25 September to 9 October 2024.  Full details are available on the notice in the Gazette.

Starting today, URA staff will conduct freezing survey within the project area to ascertain the actual number of affected residents and the occupancy status.  At the media briefing, General Manager (Acquisition and Clearance) of the URA, Ms Michelle Tong, remarked that the KC-020 Project involves around 110 property interests.  The URA would start the acquisition of property interests and make compensation/ rehousing offers to eligible tenants with reference to the occupancy status recorded in the freezing survey and in accordance with the policy prevailing at the time upon receiving authorisation from the Secretary for Development to implement the KC-020 Project.

Ms Tong added that the URA will provide assistance to owners, households and business operators through different means, including briefing sessions, policies pamphlets, Smart Tips and detailed explanations by individual case officers, to mitigate their doubt after the commencement of the Project.  Besides, the URA will remind the owners that compensation/ rehousing offers will be based on the conditions recorded in the freezing survey and no extra allowances will be provided to the owners for any changes in the occupancy status after the survey, including repossessing of rented property for self-use, vacating tenants from the property, or renting the unit to new tenants.

Following the commencement of the Project, the URA will conduct briefing sessions covering the planning procedure and the URA’s prevailing acquisition and compensation arrangements.  The URA will also assign case officers to contact the affected households and business operators to explain the acquisition, rehousing and compensation policies and the implementation timeline of the Project.

An urban renewal social service team comprising professional social workers of the Salvation Army has been appointed by the Urban Renewal Fund to provide assistance for owners and occupants in need.  The social service team can be reached at 3188 2151.  Affected residents can also visit the URA Headquarters in person, call the URA’s Hotline at 2588 2333 for enquiries, or visit the URA website at www.ura.org.hk for information about the Project.
 

Appendix：
Details of the KC-020 Project

* Estimated figures subject to the result of freezing survey
 

(ENDS)