URA

OPERATING REVIEW 20 The District-based Approach Since 2015, and with a preview to tackle the urban decay problem in a more holistic and effective manner, the URA Board has endorsed a new district- based urban renewal approach which could secure far greater planning and social gains than scattered “pencil block” or small-scale redevelopment projects with limited or no such gains. This overall approach aims to better tie-in with the objectives of URAO and URS to restructure and re-plan urban areas with more environmentally-friendly transport networks and rationalised land uses, thus creating more positive impacts via the URA’s redevelopment projects. Based on the preliminary planning study on a neighbourhood scale conducted by the URA to carry forward some recommendations from the Kowloon City District Urban Renewal Forum, the URA selected strategic site locations for redevelopment within the neighbourhood, with a wider master plan in mind. The overall proposal covers a communal carpark for provisions of parking and loading/unloading facilities ancillary to development sites and/or redevelopments in the vicinity. This can eliminate piecemeal carpark openings at the ground floor level thereby helping to maximise shop front and retain a more vibrant street environment. On the connectivity and walkability front, the traffic circulation of the locality upon review has been restructured and enhanced to not only create a better pedestrian environment in terms of safety, convenience and comfort, but also entail more organised public accessible open areas for future opportunities of social activities and place- making. Arising from the study, altogether six projects have been launched so far under the district-based approach in To Kwa Wan. The Yau Mong District Study The increasing magnitude of Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing building stock is well beyond the URA’s capacity under its current mode of operation. The Yau Mong District Study (YMDS), which commenced in May 2017, is a holistic strategic study aimed at shifting the URA’s focus from the traditional project-based redevelopment approach to a district-based renewal approach. In doing so, it encompasses all the 5Rs, and identifies enhanced institutional and implementation strategies for the formation of the position of URA, as well as new operational and business models. New urban renewal initiatives with planning tools tailored to encourage effective urban renewal will be incorporated into options for the forward-looking and financially sustainable Master Renewal Concept Plan (MRCP), while Action Areas will be identified from the MRCP with implementation plans incorporating the 5Rs, place-making and smart-city concepts. The YMDS plans will serve as pilots, the results of which will guide other districts in seeking urban renewal solutions to various challenges. To date, baseline reviews on the physical attributes of the Yau Mong district and the current institutional framework and implementation measures have been completed. Formulation of Potential Urban Renewal Opportunity Areas (PUROA) is underway, where dedicated urban renewal works and restructuring of urban areas shall be undertaken to optimise the urban environment and liveability of the 212 hectares of land within the Yau Mong District. Additional redevelopment delivery models are also being explored. MRCP options will be formulated after identifying the PUROAs. Our Studies Identifying more effective and sustainable ways to tackle Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing building stock has remained at the forefront of the URA’s efforts throughout 2017/18. Following the district-based approach, which was first initiated in Kowloon City in 2015, the URA is piloting the Yau Mong district to explore new institutional and implementation strategies for district-based urban renewal through a holistic approach integrating the URA’s 5R business strategies. Meanwhile, the study on New Building Rehabilitation Strategy, now in its second year, aims to identify a comprehensive strategy covering buildings of all ages to extend their lifespan and reduce the number of dilapidated buildings in future. To create sustainable and positive impacts for the community, the URA is also carrying out a strategic sustainability study to establish a systematic framework encompassing key performance indicators in various dimensions to further beef up the planning strategy in an all-round modus operandi.