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Draft Wan Chai North Outline Zoning Plan endorsed
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     The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Wan Chai North Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     "The approved OZP is to establish a statutory land use framework to guide development and redevelopment in the Wan Chai North area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (May 22).

     The Planning Scheme Area covers an area of about 55.2 hectares, of which about 5.7 hectares are to be reclaimed. It is bounded by Hing Fat Street to the east, Victoria Park Road and Gloucester Road to the south and Fenwick Pier Street to the west. It includes the existing Wan Chai area to the north of Gloucester Road and Island Eastern Corridor and the proposed reclamation area to the north of the existing seawall.

     The extent of reclamation has been determined by the minimum extent required for providing the essential transport infrastructure namely the Central-Wan Chai Bypass (CWB) and associated road connection, and for reprovisioning the affected facilities. Other than meeting infrastructure needs, harbourfront enhancement will be the main use on the reclamation.

     The area also covers the existing built-up area comprising commercial and office development, art and cultural development, government office buildings and government, institution and community facilities.

     The overall planning and urban design concept for the area is to create a waterfront with attraction and distinctive character for the enjoyment of the public, emphasising its relation with the harbour, the cultural and historical context of the Wan Chai/Causeway Bay hinterland, and the surrounding environment. Due regard has been given to the Vision and Goals for Victoria Harbour of the Town Planning Board, the Harbour Planning Principles promulgated by the Harbour-front Enhancement Committee and the Urban Design Guidelines of the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines as well as community aspirations.

     Character precincts are defined along the new waterfront to reflect different planning emphasis and identities. The design of development would complement the respective character precincts and relate well to the adjacent development. The developments will be low-rise and low-density to respect the waterfront setting.

     A total of 8.8 hectares of land is zoned "Open Space", which covers the major existing open spaces in the area and the proposed waterfront promenade. A coherent open space network is envisaged, which will be integrated with the pedestrian links to provide physical and visual access to the harbourfront. The "Open Space" zone to the east of the Golden Bauhinia Square (GBS) will allow the expansion of the GBS and further enhance the tourist attractiveness of this area.

     About 14.7 hectares of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" for uses including exhibition centre, public waterfront promenade with water recreation-related uses, waterfront-related commercial and leisure uses, sports and recreation clubs, helipad, pier, railway ventilation building and station facilities, and CWB exhaust vent. Developments in some of these zones are subject to gross floor area and/or building height restrictions. The exterior designs of the developments in some of these zones are subject to the permission from the Town planning Board.

     A total of 10.9 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community" for the provision of government, institution or community (GIC) facilities serving the needs of the local residents and/or a wider district, region or territory. To ensure the compatibility of the planned GIC facilities with the waterfront setting and surrounding developments, the sites for these facilities are subject to building height restrictions.

     The remaining parts of the area are zoned "Commercial" (about 3.2 hectares) to reflect the existing commercial/office developments along Harbour Road or shown as "Road" (about 17.6 hectares).
 
     The approved Wan Chai North OZP No S/H25/2 is now available for public inspection at the Board's Secretariat, the Planning Department's Planning Enquiry Counters, the Hong Kong District Planning Office, as well as the Wan Chai and Eastern District Offices.

     Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed on the board's website (www.info.gov.hk/tpb).

Ends/Friday, May 22, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:52

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