Stakeholders halt property development

Last week, the Swire Properties was refused permission by a Town Planning Board to increase the plot ratio of two adjoining sites at western Mid-levels to at least nine times from 7.57 times now.

The company wants to build a $500 million, 58-storey residential development by combining two sites, one on Seymour Road and the other on Castle Steps.

About 3,000 people in the neighbourhood objected to the plan saying that the project will lead to traffic congestion, air pollution and blocked views. A representative of the neighbour hood (Seymour redevelopment concern group) said the developer is "too greedy" to care about residents' interests.

In response, Swire Properties expressed disappointment but the company will maintain an open communication channel with the neighbourhood.

Observers think that greater transparency and more channels for public comment will only jeopardise the project. A Hong Kong Polytechnic University's Professor said, "Tolerance of residents towards new developments gets smaller as the density of urban development gets higher. While developers will find it more difficult to satisfy people's demands, rising activism could slow the city's urban development."

Although there is no formal channel for residents to voice their opposition to plans submitted to the Buildings Department, industry observers said residents' opinions should not be ignored.

Other development projects that have been refused by Town Planning Board include, Hopewell Holding's Mega Tower hotel project in Wan Chai and Sun Hung Kai Properties to transform a gas and oil products transit depot in Ap Lei Chau into a 400 unit high-rise residential project.

Source: Foster Wong and Yvonne Liu, "People power delays projects: Greater transparency and more channels to complain mean developers ignore neighbours' objections at their peril", South China Morning Post 1 February 2006.