Urban Renewal Authority 2018-19 Annual Report

18 MANAGING DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT Integrating Projects for Better Planning and Community Gains In recent years, the URA has stepped up its efforts to reengineer the implementation strategies in its core businesses, in particular the adoption in June 2016 of a district-based approach in redevelopment, an initiative announced when I first took up the office. Under this approach, individual redevelopment projects in To Kwa Wan are integrated and redeveloped under a holistic planning model, so that through re-planning, incompatible land uses in the district can be rationalised, alongside the benefits of alleviating traffic congestion, as well as enhancing open spaces and walkability in the area. Following the launch of Wing Kwong Street/Sung On Street Project (KC-014) in June 2018, the redevelopment in To Kwa Wan under the district-based approach now covers seven linked projects making up a site of 22,000 sq metres, facilitating a holistic planning of the area with synergy to enhance the road network and pedestrian environment. The ‘district-based’ approach and the relevant statutory planning procedures for the To Kwa Wan development has gained full support from local communities as well as receiving relevant approvals from the government and Town Planning Board, alongside good progress in the acquisition. At the time of preparing this statement, the URA had already made a land resumption request to the government and completed the consultation process with the District Council. Upon obtaining approval from the Chief Executive in Council, the resumption of land will be gazetted for taking into effect. The district, after regeneration, will be enhanced with a restructured and more efficient road network design, alongside an underground public carpark that can free up on-street parking spaces for installing green pedestrian walkways. Meanwhile, there will also be an underground communal carpark to serve nearby developments with a goal of reducing individual carpark openings at ground level, thereby maximising street frontages for shops and enhancing street vibrancy. I look forward to the fruitful completion of the redevelopment projects under this planning-led approach, that will regenerate the old district of To Kwa Wan into a liveable, accessible and vibrant community. Leveraging District-based Planning Experience for the Development of New Planning-led Approach Building on the experience in implementing the ‘district-based’ model in To Kwa Wan redevelopment and the public recognition therefrom, the URA has developed a new approach of urban renewal from the previously adopted model of ‘project-led’ to ‘planning-led’, with the Kai Tak Road/Sa Po Road Development Scheme (KC- 015) launched early this year as the forerunning project. Through the realignment of a portion of Sa Po Road, the space beneath Prince Edward Road East will be earmarked for building a split-level sunken plaza that will serve as a vital node connecting the old Kowloon City and new Kai Tak Development Area through linkages to the nearby underground shopping streets in Kai Tak, with a view to inject vibrancy to the old area of Kowloon City. To alleviate the problem of inadequate parking spaces in the vicinity of the project area, the plan has also incorporated an underground carpark with 300 public parking spaces. In addition to achieving the single objective of redeveloping dilapidated buildings in project areas, the URA has adopted a more holistic approach in the planning and implementation to enhance the overall walkability and connectivity, as well as greening for the area under redevelopment and also its vicinity, bringing wider benefit.