New Territories North and West – it’s all about strategic location
- A surge in luxury housing developments has put these areas among the most popular neighbourhoods in Hong Kong
Whereas once many Hong Kong Island residents might have rarely crossed the harbour, the New Territories is now the strategic place to be. Expanded MTR lines offer convenient access to Central and the Kowloon East CBD2, but today’s executives are just as likely to commute often across the border – as well as to northern and western areas of the New Territories – to put them within easy reach.
As Chung Chi-lam, executive director, sales and marketing, at Wing Tai Properties, explains, the transport infrastructure, either newly developed or proposed, makes these areas more accessible not just to all parts of Hong Kong, but also to mainland cities such as Shenzhen.
“With projects including the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, the Tuen Mun–Chek Lap Kok Link (under construction) and the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point (BCP), the location is strategically transformed,” he says.
Sha Tin, as a central point, offers many advantages for family living, notably access to high-quality education. It’s no wonder that, according to the Hong Kong Property Review 2019, most new housing supply – and the variety of units available – is forecast to come from the New Territories, much of it in the north, west and Sha Tin districts.
Another advantage is quality of living space, both inside and surrounding new developments. “These locales are less dense comparatively, so buyers have more choice in lower-density homes,” Chung says.
Wing Tai is responding to market demand with two projects in prestigious Kau To Shan, a serene environment surrounded by mountain ranges and commanding panoramic views of the Pat Sin Leng range, Tolo Harbour and Sha Tin Racecourse.
The traditional luxury residential areas are located around Kau To Shan Road and Ma Ling Path, but most properties in these areas were built more than 20 years ago. “In proximity to Ma Ling Path, Lai Ping Road is now emerging as a new prime luxury residential location with brand-new developments featuring a more diverse layout and floor plan mix, including apartments and houses,” Chung says.
Located in Primary School Net 91 and the Sha Tin secondary school net, Kau To Shan is surrounded by quality schools and international institutions, he added. “Nearby are the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Science Park, incubators of excellent learning for the next generation.”
First impressions of La Vetta – apart from the spectacular harbour, river, racecourse and mountain views – include its unique architecture. The curved stone walls and windows exude spaciousness and low density.
Among the 158 units are 68 houses with saleable areas ranging from 1,635 sq ft to 5,129 sq ft. Most offer four bedrooms with two en suites, making them ideal for homeowners to enjoy house living in grand style. The remaining 90 low-density apartments, with saleable areas ranging in size from 544 sq ft to 2,306 sq ft, offer a variety of one- to four-bedroom layouts.
Three internationally renowned teams of masters – Yabu Pushelberg, Luciano Giubbilei and P&T Group – joined forces to craft this residential masterpiece. Their artistic expression was given free rein in a clubhouse with gym (including spa-style heated pool), a music suite and home theatre and five multilayered, Italianesque gardens. The clubhouse also includes two banquet rooms and a “multiple intelligence” room for children.
Le Cap, on the Kau To Shan peak, is Wing Tai’s other luxury residential project in this area of exquisite natural beauty. Surrounded by the lush greenery of Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve, it commands views of the Pat Sin Leng range and Tolo Harbour.
A timeless interpretation of French luxury, Le Cap is Pierre-Yves Rochon’s first Hong Kong project. Inspired by 1930s art deco elegance, Le Cap’s 29 houses and 40 apartments are partially constructed from hand-laid marble, limestone and quartzite bricks. Eminent landscape architect Jean Mus oversaw the landscaping, and the Provençal feeling is enhanced with bas-relief sculptures by French artist Michele Létang. The high-ceilinged clubhouse, fronted by a mosaic-lined swimming pool, is a space that is both social and private.
Perhaps, in addition to urban and cross-border convenience, frequent travellers wish to reduce travel times to Hong Kong International Airport. For this reason, Tsing Yi is situated in a strategic location of metro Hong Kong connected by eight bridges.
Local developer Grand Ming Group is building the first new iconic residential project in Tsing Yi in 15 years. The Grand Marine delivers a mix of 776 apartments rarely seen in this established neighbourhood, about 70 per cent of them one- or two-bedroom units from 278 sq ft to 438 sq ft.
Starting from The Grand Marine, it’s about a 10-minute drive to a central Kowloon hub such as the ICC, or the high-speed railway at West Kowloon Station. Driving to the airport, and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, should take just 20 minutes, while the train from Tsing Yi MTR station reaches the airport in 14 minutes, or Hong Kong Station in 17 minutes.
Appealing to the young elite, the show flats are designed for a modern contemporary lifestyle with adjoining balconies, “SmartAtHome” features such as sensor lighting and Samsung smart key locks. Parts of the upper floor units enjoy sea views of Victoria Harbour and Rambler Channel.
A clubhouse of more then 35,000 sq ft offers residents a score of entertainment facilities, extending into the Adrian L. Norman-designed landscape. Highlights include an outdoor swimming pool, children’s pool and poolside lounge; two banquet rooms; an energetic gym with virtual reality studio; and three children’s playrooms. There is also space for arts and crafts, music, yoga, billiards, karaoke and steam/sauna facilities. The estimated completion date is January 2022.
Strategically, Lantau is Hong Kong’s “double gateway”, linked to the world via the International Airport, and to the Greater Bay Area via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Hong Kong Resort Company (HKR) has capitalised on this prime location with Poggibonsi, its latest sea view luxury residential project in Discovery Bay.
Comprising 196 units in three towers, Poggibonsi offers a choice of layouts, from 344-sq-ft studios to four-bedroom residences of 1,844 sq ft, each equipped with premium fixtures and appliances.
Buyers can choose their preferred scenic outlook: more than half the units enjoy sea views of Yi Pak Wan or Sam Pak Wan, while some face south or southeast.