The Development Bureau today (June 7) welcomed the revised development scheme of the West Rail Property Development Limited (WRPDL) at Long Ping (North) to comply with the new requirements that have come into effect since April 1 to foster a quality and sustainable built environment (the QBE requirements).
The Town Planning Board (TPB) published the revised scheme at Long Ping (North) today for public inspection until June 28. This is the fourth West Rail property development project which WRPDL has redesigned to comply with the QBE requirements, following the revised schemes at Nam Cheong Station, and Sites Tsuen Wan 5 (Bayside) and Tsuen Wan 5 (Cityside) published earlier in May, a spokesman for the Development Bureau said.
The development occupies a site zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" on the Yuen Long Outline Zoning Plan and the revised Master Layout Plan requires TPB's approval. Its Rural and New Town Planning Committee will consider the revised scheme on July 22.
"We welcome the revised scheme which will bring about significant improvements in terms of building separation and permeability, air ventilation as well as greenery coverage for the benefit of residents and the neighbourhood," the spokesman said.
Key improvements of the revised scheme include deletion of one residential tower and a three-level podium as well as removal of a carpark to the basement to reduce development bulk; widening the breezeways and visual corridors between towers from 3-7 metres to 16-18 metres to enhance air circulation and visual permeability; and setting back all residential towers from the site boundary by about 5 metres to create a continuous landscaped corridor along the site boundary. The previously approved and revised Master Layout Plans are at Annex A and Annex B respectively.
The opportunity has also been taken to increase the proportion of small and medium-sized flats in the project. Under the revised scheme, the number of units with a saleable area of 50 square metres or less has been increased from 524 (61% of total) to 624 (75% of total).
Besides, in addition to a 125-place residential care home for the elderly proposed in the previously approved scheme, the opportunity of revising the Master Layout Plan has been taken to include in the development a 60-place day care centre for the elderly, to cater for the needs of the elderly in the local district.
"The revised scheme meets the new QBE requirements and represents an improvement over the original approved scheme. We are confident that the public and the Yuen Long District Council would appreciate the Government's initiative and render their support. Representatives from the Development Bureau and the MTR Corporation Limited, which is managing the project on behalf of WRPDL, will attend the Yuen Long District Council meeting to solicit their support," the spokesman said.
Subject to TPB's approval, WRPDL plans to tender the project in early 2012. The successful tenderer will then submit general building plans with the new QBE requirements to the Building Authority for approval.
The TPB will consider the revised schemes for the Nam Cheong and two Tsuen Wan 5 projects on June 17. Subject to the TPB's approval, WRPDL plans to tender the Nam Cheong and two Tsuen Wan 5 projects in the third and fourth quarters respectively.
Railway property development projects remain an important source of housing land supply. Together with this Long Ping (North) site, the four West Rail projects planned for tender in 2011-12 will provide a total of about 7,500 flats, 66% of which are small and medium-sized.
Ends/Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:31
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