The Development Bureau announced today (May 4) that the application period for the Land Sharing Pilot Scheme (LSPS) will be extended by one year to May 5, 2024, with its existing framework and requirements unchanged.
In the light of the fact that some project proponents are in active discussion with the Land Sharing Office (LSO) over prospective proposals, a brief extension of the application period will allow project proponents of prospective proposals to prepare and submit the information required for their applications. Besides, the objective of the LSPS is to allow interested project proponents to share their private land, with a view to increasing public housing supply in the short to medium term. Given that this is intended to be a short-to-medium-term supply measure, project proponents should submit their applications early.
The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said, "The Government will spearhead the planning and the land creation work, including providing public housing and supporting facilities through reviewing land uses and resuming private land. Having regard to the time needed in seeing through the land use planning and resumption work, the LSPS was launched three years ago. Private land owners whose land has not been covered in Government's land creation projects but would like to assist the Government in boosting public housing supply in the short and medium term can partake in the scheme. Under the LSPS, the Government will consider providing the necessary supporting infrastructure. If private land owners do not put forth their applications in good time, it will defeat the purpose of the LSPS. In fact, with Government-led efforts in land creation starting to deliver results, there is a lesser role for the LSPS to play down the road."
She continued, "Given that it is a brief extension, and the supporting role of the LSPS in Government's overall land creation work, we do not see the need to amend the framework or requirements of the scheme. This is not to say that any changes to the scheme will affect existing and potential applications. We will continue to take forward applications with in-principle endorsement, and appeal to interested project proponents to contact the LSO and submit applications as soon as possible."
Since the launch of the LSPS on May 6, 2020, five applications have been received. The three applications with in-principle endorsement so far involve development sites in Yuen Long and Tai Po Districts with a total housing yield of about 21 600 units, including about 15 100 units being public housing. Statutory rezoning procedures for these projects would commence progressively by the end of this year. Details of the proposed development parameters and progress in processing the five received applications are available on the LSPS website: www.devb.gov.hk/en/issues_in_focus/land_sharing_pilot_scheme/land_sharing_pilot_scheme_applications/application_received/index.html.
Ends/Thursday, May 4, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:38
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