Outcry over 'minor' deal to demolish historic villa

The Town Planning Board is being urged not to endorse a developer's plan to demolish a historic Spanish villa on The Peak and preserve only part of the facade.

CSI Properties wants to build a four-storey residential block with two flats behind the facade of Villa Blanca at 47 Barker Road, which was likely built in the 1930s and has a grade-two heritage rating. CSI bought the site in February for HK$204 million.

In the proposal, supported by the Development Bureau, CSI seeks a 9 per cent increase in floor space - described as a 'minor alteration' - in return for keeping the facade.

'A 9 per cent increase in floor area is not minor,' legislator Tanya Chan said. 'You ask for so much new space just to keep the historic building's facade. This is low-level conservation and should not be supported.'

The Civic Party lawmaker for Hong Kong Island said it was unacceptable that heritage officials had supported the plan without a public explanation or saying what formula was used in the 9 per cent relaxation.

Kwok Ka-ki, an executive committee member of the party, said the government should not reward the owner, which bought the site only eight months ago.

'They must have been aware of the historic grading given in September 2010. How do you justify benefitting the owner?' he said.