New World, Henderson Land to be major winners in NT new towns

New World Development and Henderson Land Development are set to be major winners under the latest town planning blueprint of the northeastern New Territories that covers Fanling North and Kwu Tung North.

Both developers own large swathes of land in the region that are to be zoned mostly for residential use under the blueprint of two new towns that the Development Bureau unveiled yesterday. Previously, their development plans were stalled by government studies of the area.

A New World plan to build a massive residential project in Fanling North's Wu Nga Lok Yeung, for example, will finally get a chance to get off the ground.

Since the early 2000s, the developer has applied 10 times to the Town Planning Board to rezone the 6.4 hectare site from a green belt to residential use.

In 2002, the firm suggested merging its site with nearby land to develop public and private housing estates spread over 33 hectares, including plots owned by Henderson Land, that could yield 20,765 flats. Then in 2004, it proposed building 17 blocks of 38 to 40 storeys, housing 5,168 flats.

The board rejected all the plans as it noted the site was under a town planning study. It also said infrastructure in the area was not sufficient to support a large residential development.