Hong Kong construction rule change: Its Intl. seeks relaxation of height restriction for Fanling project

Following the government's relaxation last year of the rule that above-ground car parks in private sector projects should not be included in the gross floor area, countless projects planning to comply with this regulation have begun to emerge. In this context, the latest development comes from Its International (其士國際), which applied to the Town Planning Board for the industrial site in the Fanling district. To support the planned development works on the site, the company requested a relaxation of approximately 18.85% in the existing building height limit.

According to the information contained in the relevant application file, the project is located on lot number 245 on Anju Road (安居街) in Fanling and currently holds industrial zone status. The primary objective of the application made by the property owner is to increase building height limits to allow for both industrial use and a public car park on the site. This strategic move is considered a significant step taken to align with the government's new car park policies and to optimize land use.

The detailed plan regarding the project cites the relocation of the car park as the most prominent reason for the zoning change. Under the current plans, the car park area planned to be built on the ground floor of the site represents a departure from previous designs, which anticipated a basement structure. The requested relaxation in the height limit became necessary to realize this structural change. Because allocating the entire ground floor of the building to the car park creates a situation that affects the total building height.

With the implementation of the structural regulation, the goal is to construct a new 14-story industrial building (factory/warehouse) on the site. With this new building, the project's total gross floor area (GFA) will reach approximately 87,800 square feet (approximately 8,160 square meters). This expansion aims to maximize the commercial and industrial potential of the site while also fulfilling the function of providing public space to meet the parking needs of the region.

In summary, the application for this site in Fanling serves as a good example demonstrating the concrete effects of recent changes in local zoning laws on the sector. Its International's move stands out as a classic real estate development strategy aiming to both benefit from the government's new incentives and increase the land's profitability. If the project is approved, the modernization of the industrial building stock in the region and the strengthening of parking infrastructure are expected.