Eighteen building plans approved in May

     The Buildings Department approved 18 building plans in May, with three on Hong Kong Island, eight in Kowloon and seven in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, eight were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, three were for commercial developments, and seven were for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on 13 building projects which, when completed, will provide 60 728 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 1 094 units, and 336 977 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for five building projects.
 
     The department also issued 20 occupation permits, with six on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and eleven in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 122 337 sq m involving 1 347 units, and 174 018 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in May totalled about $8.7 billion.
 
     In addition, six demolition consents involving six building structures were issued.
 
     The department received 4 112 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in May and issued 1 311 removal orders on UBWs.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for May can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).