UK engineering consultancy Mott MacDonald has been appointed by the Hong Kong government to look at the possibility of siting multi-storey residential buildings on brownfield land as the territory struggles to find places to build needed homes.
The company will do planning and engineering assessments, recommend operational models and investigate the economic viability of the proposed multi-storey buildings.
In 2014 the government has set a target to build 280,000 public sector flats by 2025-26, and set out to rezone 192 plots of land.
But locals have protested over new towers going up in rare green or recreational spaces.
Announcing the project award yesterday, Mott MacDonald said brownfield sites in Hong Kong are currently being used for industrial operations such as open storage, port back-up facilities, industrial workshops, logistics operations and recycling yards.
The study will involve consultation with stakeholders including existing brownfield operators, industry representatives and relevant government authorities and departments.
“We are excited to be part of this pioneering initiative by the Government of Hong Kong,” said Sai Ching, Mott MacDonald’s project director. “The findings will set a benchmark for similar land-use improvement studies in the future.”
The feasibility study is due to be completed by the end of 2017.
Image: Skyline of Hong Kong, 2005 (Georgio/Wikimedia Commons)
