Page 14 - URA Annual Report 2021-22

Artist Impression
MANAGING DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Riding on the successful implementation of the To Kwa Wan project, we took the further step of adopting a ‘planning-led, district-based’ urban renewal model in 2019 and established an implementation mechanism for sustainable and effective urban renewal. In formulating the planning objectives of a project, we reviewed land resources, building conditions and layouts, as well as community facility needs and the local characteristics of the district. We then consolidated land uses of the district concerned and undertook extensive replanning, aiming to implement urban renewal projects with greater impact and social gains.
Meanwhile, in mid-2017, we had embarked on two strategic studies, namely the Yau Mong District Study (YMDS) and the Study on New Strategy on Building Rehabilitation (NSBR), which guided the future trajectory of the long-term development of urban renewal. After three years of hard work, these two strategic studies were completed in early 2021, and their findings and recommendations have been submitted to the Government for consideration.
Throughout this time, we have built a team known for its professionalism and innovation to embrace technologies that broaden our planning, decision-making and implementation capabilities. These strengths have enabled the team to overcome hurdles and challenges and make projects possible that had previously been regarded as impossible, thereby speeding up the pace of urban renewal.
Taking on more sizeable challenging projects
Throughout the past three years, the URA has successfully applied new urban renewal models, strategies and planning tools to various projects in Central and Western District, Mong Kok, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon City and Sham Shui Po.
Amongst these were the Kim Shin Lane and Cheung Wah Street redevelopment projects in Sham Shui Po which commenced last September, involving some 1,700 households and a population of about 3,000. We overcame the hurdle of redeveloping the area with old building clusters of ultra-high density by incorporating land resources from under-utilised Government land and aged community facilities in the area into the projects’ master development plans. Through the restructuring and replanning of lands, more floor area can be generated for development. Besides unlocking the redevelopment potential, these projects will provide a much improved living environment, along with modernised standards and services for public transport, municipal, elderly rehabilitation, cultural, leisure uses, as well as greenery space provision.
Nevertheless, various complex issues remain to be tackled during the urban renewal process, including integrating the old and new cityscapes, the challenges of sourcing relevant sites for reprovisioning government facilities, and the need to retain local characteristics. Therefore in May this year we began trialling an integrated approach to implementing our latest redevelopment project in Kowloon City.
The Gateway Square in Nga Tsin Wai Road/Carpenter Road Project will link to Kai Tak Development Area strengthening the connections between the old and new districts of Kowloon City.
By consolidating the planning for Nga Tsin Wai Road/ Carpenter Road Development Scheme (KC-017) and its adjacent Kai Tak Road/Sa Po Road Development Scheme (KC-015), as well as integrating the urban renewal work of redevelopment, rehabilitation, preservation and revitalisation, the overall built environment and public facilities of the area will be enhanced as a whole. Connectivity between the old and new districts of Kowloon City and Kai Tak Development Area will also be strengthened.
In addition, we are trialling a ‘district-based rehabilitation’ approach to assist the owners of buildings in the neighbourhood that are outside the sites of the two projects to carry out rehabilitation and preventive maintenance work to preserve the conditions of these buildings. Place-making initiatives will also be introduced to revitalise public areas including the streets, parks and leisure spaces, so as to integrate the old and new cityscapes upon completion of the projects.
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