Page 45 - URA Annual Report 2020-21

Building Rehabilitation Platform (BRP)
Launched in March 2019, the BRP website (www.brplatform.org.hk) is an all-in-one information platform providing professional and comprehensive information along with technical support on building rehabilitation for building owners. Key rehabilitation information is highlighted through 55 sets of trilingual videos uploaded onto the BRP website. A building rehabilitation guidebook with a broad range of information on preparatory work, appointment of consultants and contractors, as well as supervision of works, is available for download from the BRP website to help owners better understand the works, procedures and legal requirements involved in each step of building rehabilitation. In addition, a total of nine sets of sample tender/quotation seeking documents, contracts for procurement of consultants and contractors were also uploaded onto the BRP website for public use and reference. A cost reference centre was also launched in the first quarter of 2021 to provide information on the cost range of typical rehabilitation works items.
The Building Rehabilitation Company Registration Scheme aims to establish a one-stop platform enabling building owners to search for service providers.
Retrofitting Projects
Yu Chau West Street, Cheung Sha Wan
The Project first commenced in 2013 under the Pilot Scheme for Redevelopment of Industrial Buildings. Due to the low acquisition rate, the URA Board in 2018 approved that the redevelopment project should be halted. Instead, the URA would carry out retrofitting works to support rehabilitation initiatives, allowing the application of retrofitting initiatives to extend the serviceability of old industrial buildings, in support of the initiative under the 2018 Policy Address to revitalise industrial buildings. The retrofitting work commenced in November 2020 and is currently in the final construction stage targeted for completion by the end of 2021. Meanwhile, the URA is in dialogue with NGO operators to take up some of the dedicated units, with a target to commence operation also by the end of 2021, while the majority of the acquired premises will be converted for office use by the URA.
URA’s Rehousing Blocks
Retrofitting and improvement works for the rehousing block at 466 Des Voeux Road West commenced in March 2020 with an aim to promote preventive maintenance and improve liveability and sustainability of the building. In particular, a co-living concept will be introduced in the project. The retrofitting work is expected to complete in the third quarter of 2021.
Going forward, the URA will continue to enrich the content of the BRP website. To provide users with more reference, a database of eligible consultants and contractors interested in undertaking building rehabilitation works will be published in phases along with a rating on their quality management systems from the first quarter of 2022 onwards. The operational details of the Building Rehabilitation Company Registration Scheme (BRCRS) comprising the assessment mechanism for formulating the above database of consultants and contractors is also being finalised. The BRCRS for Authorised Person/ Registered Inspector (AP/RI) was soft launched in the first quarter of 2021. The database of AP/RI is expected to be published by the first quarter of 2022.
URA ANNUAL REPORT 2020-21 41
Operating Review Corporate Sustainability Management Discussion and Analysis Projects at a Glance Corporate Governance