The Town Planning Board (TPB) today published revised guidelines relaxing the current Transfer of Plot Ratio (TPR) scheme to allow cross-district TPR.
The relaxation aims to add flexibility to further facilitate the private market and the Urban Renewal Authority in using the TPR tool to take forward urban redevelopment projects.
The existing TPR mechanism has been implemented as a pilot in Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei since 2023. The transfer can be done through a Section 16 planning application under the Town Planning Ordinance to the TPB.
The mechanism allows the transfer of permissible gross floor area (GFA) from an unlimited number of “sending sites” (SSs) to, at most, two “receiving sites” (RSs) within the same Outline Zoning Plan (OZP). A transfer of up to 30% of the maximum GFA of an RS is permitted, and subject to land premium payment, if any.
The application criteria have now been relaxed. Key features include expanding the scheme to allow cross-district transfers to inject more flexibility in pairing up SS(s) and RS(s).
This means that RS(s) can be covered by OZPs different from those of the SS(s), and in different districts, such as the Northern Metropolis, or other new development areas that have larger infrastructural capacity to take on additional developments.
Apart from Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei, the scope of SSs will be expanded to cover Cheung Sha Wan, Ma Tau Kok, Sai Ying Pun, Sheung Wan, Tsuen Wan, and Wan Chai.
The requirements for RSs will also be relaxed by removing the limit of two RSs per application; reducing site area requirement from 1,000 sq m to 700 sq m; extending coverage to the whole territory, including the Northern Metropolis; and allowing minor exceedance of the 30% cap.
The TPB refers to the Bonus Plot Ratio Pilot Scheme announced by the Development Bureau on August 19 and said that, if a redevelopment site – whether an SS or an RS – under the TPR scheme can also meet the eligibility criteria under the DEVB’s pilot scheme, the applicant may concurrently apply for the bonus PR under the bureau’s scheme. However, this is subject to observing other requirements under both schemes.
The revised guidelines are now available at the TPB Secretariat at 15/F, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong.
Enquiries can be addressed or emailed to the Secretariat’s office. Alternatively, call the Planning Department’s enquiry counter at 2231 5000 or send them an email.