News

Latest approvals and updates

19 November 2025

S12A Application for Proposed Harbourfront Revitalisation: A New Cultural Entertainment Destination

A S.12A Application has been recently submitted to the Town Planning Board relating to a waterfront site in Quarry Bay zoned “Other Specified Uses (1)” annotated “Cultural and/or Commercial, Leisure and Tourism Related Uses” (“OU(1)”) that has been left idle for nearly two decades.

The site has a long planning history with approved proposals that were never implemented due to lack of compatibility with the waterfront and/or lack of commercial viability. As such, the objective of this S.12A application is to expand the permitted uses to include “Flat” in Column 2 to enable a commercially viable scheme that achieves the planning intention of the “OU(1)” zone. It also seeks to relax the building height restriction from 35mPD to 47mPD to enable a well-designed scheme that would maintain compatibility with its harboufront context.

It is envisaged that the proposed development will transform this unique and important site into a state-of-the-art cultural tourism hub that offers a multitude of public benefits to Hong Kong as a whole.

To achieve the abovementioned objectives and vision for the site, a Conceptual Scheme supporting the application has been carefully designed and formulated, taking into consideration Harbour Planning Principles established by the Harbourfront Enhancement Committee. Designed by Foster + Partners, the scheme is anchored by a world-class cultural venue purpose-built for immersive exhibitions and cultural programming. It will also integrate residential, retail, and dining spaces, creating a vibrant new waterfront destination for residents and visitors. Highlights of the Conceptual Scheme include:

Iconic design and architecture for the cultural venue as the centrepiece;
Visually interesting building forms that are innovative, unique and compatible with its surrounding environment;
Extensive publicly accessible areas and open space, including a central piazza, amphitheatre-like steps with harbour views, and open areas for alfresco dining and shops. These will be integrated with a continuous waterfront promenade and landscaped harbour steps.
Extensive publicly accessible areas and open space, including a central piazza, amphitheatre-like steps with harbour views, and open areas for alfresco dining and shops. These will be integrated with a continuous waterfront promenade and landscaped harbour steps.

The proposal was recently presented to the Harbourfront Commission. The S.12A application is currently being processed by the Government, and is expected to be considered by the Town Planning Board in early 2026

7 November 2025

S12A Rezoning Approved for increasing plot ratio of Comprehensive Development with Wetland Restoration Area at Wo Shang Wai, Yuen Long

The application site, has been zoned as “Other Specified Uses (Comprehensive Development to include Wetland Restoration Area)” in the 1990s. This zoning intends residential use with requirements to phase out undesirable brownfield uses, and that a portion of the site be developed into a managed wetland with long-term ecological benefits.

In light of the strategic development context of the Northern Metropolis at the San Tin Technopole, this rezoning application proposes amending the Notes on the OZP to relax the plot ratio from 0.4 to 1.3, and the building height restriction from 6 storeys (including carpark) to 10 storeys (excluding 1 basement storey for carpark). As one of Hong Kong’s first developments of this kind, we also assisted the client in voluntarily fulfilling requirements related to the Environment Conservation Fund with the Environmental Protection Department.

Project Achievements

One of the first public-private initiatives committing to the restored wetland with long-term ecological benefits, aligning with the overarching trend of "co-existence of development and conservation."
Contribution to private housing supply with 3,562 flats, a 100-place Residential Care Home for the Elderly (RCHE), and a managed wetland covering 47,400 square metres.
Offering communal open spaces, landscape gardens and ponds with recreational walk / nature trail, private gardens and wildlife viewing points.

12 September 2025

Participation at ReThink HK Forum 2025

Masterplan Limited is proud to be the first ESG-certified town planning consultancy firm in Hong Kong.

In September 2025, Masterplan is honored to have been invited by our ESG partner, Dun & Bradstreet Hong Kong, at the ReThink HK Forum, to promote our values & beliefs in building a sustainable city through our ESG framework.

We also took the chance to show the public how ESG could be incorporated in the urban design process, e.g. create more community leisure spaces in the Office Towers design at West Kowloon, maximize the walkability of the vibrant business hub at Taikoo Place, improve the livability of public housing design in Hong Kong, etc.

Furthermore, the Well-being Design Guide for public housing developments recently received the highest category award in The Hong Kong Institute of Planners Awards 2025.

Our dedicated and professional team will continue to work with our partners and Clients to improve our living environment, where development and transformation of spaces are carried out sustainably.

4 JULY 2025

S16 Application Approved for Residential Development and Pedestrian Footbridges at West Kowloon Cultural District

The As part of the mixed-use context of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), a residential component has always been included in the
Approved WKCD Development Plan (DP) but requires specific approval from the Town Planning Board. Masterplan Limited led a Section 16 planning application for a proposed scheme with residential development and Retail, Dining and Entertainment (RDE) facilities in Zone 2 of the WKCD. The application applied for relaxation of maximum Gross Floor Area, Building Height and Non-Building Area restrictions within the "OU(MU)" zones. We demonstrated that the proposed development will adhere to the planning of WKCD without changing the development mix for the district stipulated under DP, in which no more than 20% of the total permissible GFA of the whole district is for residential use.

We demonstrated that major planning and design principles of WKCD, including provision of Arts and Cultural Facilities (ACF), open space, and connectivity with neighbouring areas, are also maintained in the proposal. This included a reshuffling of GFA to allow greater flexibility for future design, such as increased provision of open space and ancillary facilities, improved connectivity, increased frontages offering more harbourfront views, and increased provision of building setback.

Project Achievements

The proposed scheme allows greater flexibility for future design, such as increased provision of open space and ancillary facilities, improved connectivity, increased frontages offering more harbourfront views, and increased provision of building setback.
The proposed multi-level pedestrian connections will enhance connectivity with neighbouring areas and improve the user experience through diverse routes within WKCD.