Seventeen building plans approved in March

     The Buildings Department approved 17 building plans in March, with seven on Hong Kong Island, four in Kowloon and six in the New Territories.
 
     Of the approved plans, nine were for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, five were for commercial developments, one was for factory and industrial development and two were for community services developments.
 
     In the same month, consent was given for works to start on 10 building projects that, when completed, will provide 132 464 square metres of gross floor area for domestic use involving 2 221 units, and 51 400 sq m of gross floor area for non-domestic use. The department has received notification of commencement of works for four building projects.
 
     The department also issued 23 occupation permits, with six on Hong Kong Island, six in Kowloon and 11 in the New Territories.
 
     Of the buildings certified for occupation, the gross floor area for domestic use was 48 318 sq m involving 427 units, and 71 769 sq m was for non-domestic use.
 
     The declared cost of new buildings completed in March totalled about $3.8 billion.
 
     In addition, 10 demolition consents involving 10 building structures were issued.
 
     The department received 2 718 reports about unauthorised building works in March and issued 920 removal orders on unauthorised items.
 
     The full version of the Monthly Digest for March can be viewed by the public on the Buildings Department's homepage (www.bd.gov.hk).