Thirteen building plans approved in March
*****************************************

     The Buildings Department approved 13 building plans in March, with four on Hong Kong Island, two in Kowloon and seven in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, four were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, five were for commercial developments, and four were for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for work to start on 15 building projects that, when completed, will provide 364,724 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use, involving 5182 units, and 125,805 square metres of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of work for 12 building projects.

     The department also issued 17 occupation permits, with five on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and eight in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 13,547 square metres, involving 94 units, and 108,576 square metres for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in March totalled about $861 million.

     In addition, 17 demolition consents involving 20 building structures were issued.

     The department received 3,706 reports about unauthorised building works in March, and issued 463 removal orders on unauthorised works.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for March can be viewed by the public on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).

Ends/Thursday, April 26, 2012
Issued at HKT 14:30

NNNN