Government studies proposal for re-zoning of 28-hectare industrial area
The Government is studying the possibility of transforming more than 20 industrial sites, covering about 28 hectares north of the West Kowloon Reclamation area, into a residential community.
It is the largest batch of industrial sites being considered by the Government for re-zoning to residential use since it pledged to change land-use restrictions on about 100 hectares of surplus industrial land.
The move is in line with the Government's drive to boost land supply to meet growing housing demand.
The district planning officer for Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing and Shamshuipo, Alfred Lau Yiu-kwong, said the Territory Development Department was studying the feasibility of re-zoning the sites for residential use.
The 28 hectares includes about 20 hectares of newly reclaimed sites and some Crown lots stretching from the junction of Yen Chow Street and Lai Chi Kok Road northwards to the Cheung Sha Wan shipyards.
Senior town planner Chan Wing-wing said those sites, scheduled for disposal in the current or coming financial year, originally were zoned for industrial or industrial-office purposes, according to the Southwest Kowloon outline zoning plan, which was gazetted in December.
The Government also would consider re-zoning private developers' existing industrial sites in the area for residential purposes, Mr Chan said.
They include Kerry Properties' 50 per cent-owned 50,892 square feet site at Fat Tseung Street, now occupied by Kerry Hung Kai Godown. China Resources group also owns a godown in the area.
To develop a well-designed residential community, Mr Chan said the Government also was considering re-zoning some of the land into open space, or reserving it for institutional or community use.
Mr Chan said the total developable area of residential space to be produced on these sites would not be finalised until the study was completed in September.
He said the plot ratio to be allowed for residential development in the area would be 6.5 times to 7.5 times.
Mr Chan said the Territory Development Department was investigating the plan's potential impact on road traffic and was considering the implications for the environment of the re-zoning proposal.
'The study is investigating whether the existing infrastructure development can afford the increase in population after the sites are re-zoned for residential purposes,' said Mr Chan.
The sites under consideration were located along the routes of two new expressways - the West Kowloon Expressway and West Kowloon Corridor.
The heavy traffic flow on these two expressways might create sound pollution, which could make the areas unsuitable for residential developments, he said.
Analysts said the Government re-zoning proposal would further enlarge the residential area in Cheung Sha Wan and Shamshuipo districts. Adjoining the reclaimed areas are the Cheung Sha Wan shipyards.
The sites, covering about 5.58 hectares, already have been re-zoned by the Government, which has designated them as a Comprehensive Development Area which would be transformed into a large housing project.
The Government earlier also decided to re-zone the abattoir and the whole-fish market at the junction of Tonkin Street and Lai Chi Kok Road for residential use.
Analysts said the re-zoning of industrial sites would be welcomed by both developers and the Consumer Council, which have been lobbying the Government to increase land and housing supply through re-zoning of surplus or under-used industrial land.
A consultancy study released in February forecast an industrial land surplus of 115-140 hectares by 2011.
