The new plans have 37% more accommodation units than the previous one that was rejected by TPB.
New World Development has owned a site on Tai Mong Tsai Road, Sha Ha, Sai Kung for many years. Three years ago it applied to the Town Planning Board for the development of 86 residential buildings. However, the TBP rejected the application as they said it negatively affected the value of archaeological remains on the site. The developer recently reapplied for planning permission again taking into account the location of the archaeologically sensitive areas, but have also decreased the number of residential buildings to 15, but at the same time increased the number of units by about 37% to 972.
According to information from the Town Planning Board, the aforesaid land is located in various lots in Demarcation District No. 221 in Sa Ha, Sai Kung and adjacent to government land, adjacent to the semi-new Pan Yi Long Garden, with a site area of approximately 637,908 square feet, of which government land occupies 75,349 square feet.
The project plans to develop 15 4- to 10-storey residential towers with a plot ratio of 1.5 times, with a residential floor area of 956,862 square feet and a two-storey clubhouse. The project also provides 816 parking spaces, of which 698 are private parking spaces.
The applicant submitted a development plan for the above application site in 2018. The old plan proposed to develop 86 3- to 8- storey residential buildings, including 14 apartment buildings and 72 villas. It is a mixed development and provides 711 units.
However, the Town Planning Board rejected the application in June last year. The reason for the rejection was that the applicant failed to prove that the proposed development plan would not have a negative impact on the sites of archaeological research value under the development. The applicant pointed out that the updated development plan will not affect the archaeological, or the regional transportation issues also mentioned. The number of buildings in the new plan has been significantly reduced, but the number of units will increase by more than 30%.
The developers claim that there will be no increase in traffic or effect on local amenities. Also not mentioned is the concurrent application for a development on the other side of Wai Man Road consisting of 154 units in 27 blocks.
Looking through the information of the Antiquities and Monuments Office, Sha Ha is one of the largest field excavations in Hong Kong’s history. The excavation area is 3,000 square metres. A large number of relics from the late Neolithic and Bronze Age have been unearthed. There are still many Han and Song dynasty relics to be excavated. The cultural relics of the Ming Dynasty found also provide valuable information for the study of local history.
Comments on the plan can be made before 27 July 2021. The full application document can be downloaded here.
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