*******************************************
The Chief Executive in Council has approved the draft Tuen Mun Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).
"The approved OZP provides a statutory land use planning framework to guide development and redevelopment within the Tuen Mun area," a spokesman for the Town Planning Board said today (March 22).
The Planning Scheme Area, covering about 2 260 hectares of land, is located at the head of Castle Peak Bay in the North West New Territories. It is bounded by the ridges of Castle Peak to the west, Lam Tei Interchange of Castle Peak Road to the north, and Tai Lam Country Park to the east. To the southeast, the area extends to Siu Lam Interchange of Tuen Mun Road, while to the southwest, it extends to Tap Shek Kok.
About 261.1 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group A)" for high-density residential developments. Some 127 hectares of land mainly located at the periphery of the New Town is zoned "Residential (Group B)" for medium-density residential developments. Some 1.4 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group C)" for low-rise, low-density residential developments. About 2.4 hectares of land is zoned "Residential (Group E)" for government quarters development. A total of 89.7 hectares of land zoned "Village Type Development" consists of existing villages, and land for their expansion.
Some 27.2 hectares of land is zoned "Comprehensive Development Area" ("CDA"). Seven "CDA" sites in Areas 9, 52, 55, 56 and 59 have been designated for comprehensive developments mainly for residential use in view of environmental and infrastructure considerations.
Some 42.2 hectares of land is zoned "Industrial", which is intended for general industrial uses, information technology and telecommunications industries, and offices related to industrial use. About 1 hectare of land is zoned "Commercial" for commercial developments, mainly for local shopping centre development serving the immediate neighbourhood.
Some 335.3 hectares of land is zoned "Other Specified Uses" mainly to provide or reserve land for specific uses such as Light Rail Transit terminus and associated comprehensive development, business, public recreation and sports centre facilities, container and cargo handling and storage area, and special industries area. Some 12.1 hectares of land, comprising the existing breakwater and an adjoining proposed reclamation area at Sam Shing Wan, is zoned "Undetermined", which requires detailed planning studies to identify the future land uses.
To provide government, institution or community facilities to serve the local, district and/or territorial needs, about 246.9 hectares of land is zoned "Government, Institution or Community". In addition, some 114.3 hectares of land is designated as "Open Space" for both active and/or passive recreational uses.
The "Green Belt" zone, with an area of 744.5 hectares, serves to define the limits of urban and sub-urban development areas with natural features and to contain urban sprawl as well as to provide passive recreational outlets.
The approved Tuen Mun OZP No. S/TM/31 is available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Town Planning Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters of the Planning Department in North Point and Sha Tin, the Tuen Mun and Yuen Long District Planning Office, the Tuen Mun District Office, and the Tuen Mun Rural Committee.
Copies of the approved OZP are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the plan can be viewed on the Town Planning Board's website at www.info.gov.hk/tpb.
Ends/Friday, March 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:00
NNNN
