Fourteen building plans approved in January

     The Buildings Department approved 14 building plans in January, with five on Hong Kong Island, five in Kowloon and four in the New Territories.

     Of the approved plans, four were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, four were for commercial developments, two were for factory and industrial developments, and four were for community services developments.

     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on five building projects which, when completed, will provide 69 953 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 735 units, and 7 856 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of superstructure works for eight building projects.

     The department also issued 16 occupation permits, with five on Hong Kong Island, one in Kowloon and 10 in the New Territories.

     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 27 978 sq m involving 711 units, and 12 215 sq m was for non-domestic use.

     The declared cost of new buildings completed in January totalled about $1.5 billion.

     In addition, seven demolition consents involving seven building structures were issued.

     The department received 2 285 reports about unauthorised building works (UBWs) in January and issued 862 removal orders on UBWs.

     The full version of the Monthly Digest for January can be viewed on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).