Answer:
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Mr President,
Answers to this five-part question are as follows -
(a)
The "CDA" zone is designated on statutory town plans under the Town 131 to
that ensure
an area is Planning Ordinance, Cap. 131 developed/redeveloped in a comprehensive manner. It helps promote urban renewal by maximising the opportunity to provide community and open space facilities and upgrading the obsolete road network in the old urban area.
(b) Once a site is designated as "CDA" on a statutory town plan, a developer can submit a planning application to the Town Planning Board in the form of a master layout plan. There is, however, no provision under the plan or the Ordinance on when an application should be submitted.
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(c)
(d)
The Board normally specifies a time limit in granting planning permission including proposals in a "CDA" zone. The planning permission will cease to have effect, unless prior to the specified date either the development permitted has commenced or the planning permission is renewed.
There are 48 "CDA" zones with approved master layout plans. As at the last quarter of 1994, 14 "CDA" schemes were completed and 7 were under construction. Works on the remaining 27 "CDA" schemes have not commenced. Some are at various stages of implementation such as negotiation regarding land exchange, land assembly, resumption/clearance and assessment and payment of compensation. The pace of implementation of "CDA" zones is affected by complex factors including ownership patterns, physical site constraints, business decisions by individual developers/land owners, and the general economic climate.
There is no provision under the Town Planning Ordinance to "punish" developers who are granted planning permission but fail to proceed with the redevelopment projects. The planning permission will expire if a developer does not commence work or have the permission renewed. Upon expiry of a planning permission, a fresh application to the Board is required should the developer wish to undertake the redevelopment project again.