3.06. Since, however, a period of 6 years may only be adequate to ensure completion of an estate from the date of inception, and since unforeseeable difficulties (e.g. clearance of area, site formation/foundation problems) may arise, it is essential, if the required housing needs are to be met, to look beyond the 6 years planning period in order to have in reserve alternative sites which can be used as a substitute for planned sites where delays may occur. Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a reserve of sites—except in more remote areas, unlikely to prove attractive to occupants—and this is creating a very serious problem.
3.07. As a corollary to the foregoing, where estates are planned in new or non-urban areas, the need arises to incorporate ancillary facilities either within or immediately adjoining the estate. To this end, as an example, consideration is now given to the planning of cinema sites in relation to new estates; such community facilities as bus termini, kindergartens, primary schools, recreation areas, restaurants, markets, post offices, welfare buildings and banking and public utility cash/collecting offices are already a standard provision in all estates.
Private Building Development
3.08. The control over private building development is exercised by the Buildings Ordinance Office on behalf of the Building Authority. There are three basic parts to this control:
(a) scrutiny and approval of building proposals, followed by supervision of work in progress;
(b) action in respect of buildings which are dangerous, or are, by reasons of detected defects, liable to become dangerous; and
(c) action in respect of illegal building works, which usually take the form of unacceptable additions to, or alterations of, legally constructed buildings (Control and Enforcement).
3.09. So far as the scrutiny and approval of building proposals and supervision of work in progress are concerned, no realistic forward planning can be carried out since the Buildings Ordinance Office has, by law, to consider just as many building proposals as are submitted to it. However, some planning in the form of intelligent anticipation is being done and the estimates of staff needs for the coming year have been influenced by the very real evidence of an upsurge in the real estate business.
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