Hong Kong’s URA announces ambitious HK$10 billion renewal plan for To Kwa Wan

The Urban Renewal Authority will for the first time knock down dilapidated buildings at three sites in the old Hong Kong district of To Kwa Wan, departing from its previous practice of selecting one site at a time for redevelopment in a “community-based” approach.

However, the authority is expected to lose money from the redevelopment. Announcing its HK$10 billion renewal plan on Friday, it said the project would supply 1,360 new flats by 2025/26, improve traffic circulation in the area and make room for small shops.

Covering 8,840 square metres, the development is estimated to affect 730 property interests, 1,210 households and 110 ground-floor shops. Subject to the approval of the Town Planning Board for one of the three sites, there will be a new road, an underground communal car park and 12,250 square metres of commercial space.

Michael Ma, the authority’s director of planning and design, said the ambitious decision to combine three nearby projects into one and plan “holistically” was a response to past criticism that the authority’s redevelopment strategy wiped out small shops.

“The three sites are relatively small,” Ma said. “The reason for putting the sites together is to provide synergy.”