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Hong Kong developers eye green belt land for flats as government plans rezoning

Developers in city are seizing opportunity to rezone green belt sites for residential use as planning department works to meet housing targets

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The relaxation in rezoning green belt sites to residential use in Hong Kong has provoked more than 6,000 objections in August. Photo: Dickson Lee

Developers are taking advantage of the government's controversial plan to rezone green belt areas to meet housing targets.

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The Planning Department has been rezoning green belt sites for residential use across the city to meet the government's goal of building more than 470,000 flats in the next decade.

In April, the department proposed rezoning seven sites to residential use in Tai Po. The relaxation provoked more than 6,000 objections in August. However, it has also given Henderson Land Development hope for its residential project on a green belt site in the district.

The developer has applied to the Town Planning Board to rezone two sites at Shan Tong Road from green belt to residential use.

The sites cover an area of 614,205 square feet close to JC Castle and village houses. The developer proposed building 18 residential blocks with eight to 19 storeys, providing up to 2,064 flats.

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Henderson Land's application received more than 600 objections, mainly from residents worried the development would destroy the natural environment and affect water and air quality.

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