Further Planning for Greater Bay Area
17/01/2019
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Proposed development of cruise port area in Qianhai-Shekou (Image：Urban Planning, Land & Resources Commission of Shenzhen Municipality)

urbanisationnews - development
The Greater Bay Area has continued moving forward recently in its seemingly unstoppable development, with a plethora of new masterplans and policy instructions issued. Large scale changes in development towards a city cluster are creating strong implications for the future.

Shenzhen

Shenzhen-Approved Masterplan of Qianhai-Shekou FTZ Area
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Two "belts" for Qianhai-Shekou Development (Image:Urban Planning, Land & Resources Commission of Shenzhen Municipality )
The Shenzhen government has just released the approved updated masterplan for its pilot FTZ area last month. According to this plan, Qianhai-Shekou area will now be positioned as a new city centre and interface area for cooperation between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. 
​Considering the area's strategic location in the Greater Bay, the Shenzhen government is facilitating the development of this area to become an important hub for finance, modern logistics, information, and technology services that serve both domestic and international markets.  
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The planned area is about 37.9 km2, including 28.2 km2 of the Qianhai-Shekou Free Trade Zone and the surrounding area of Nanshan between Qianhai and Shekou area (Image:Urban Planning, Land & Resources Commission of Shenzhen Municipality )
​With differentiated functions, the plan constructs the area into "two belts, one port and seven blocks." The coastal area will become the leisure and commercial centers for the goal of an eco-cultural belt, while the other belt will function as an urban comprehensive service zone.
​The whole planned area is expected to achieve eight hundred forty thousand employments with five hundred ninety thousand living population. More convenient transport system with 17 rail lines and one underground road have also been planned in the area.
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Proposed development of Qianhai area (Image：Urban Planning, Land & Resources Commission of Shenzhen Municipality)
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Development intensity zones in Shenzhen (Image：Urban Planning, Land & Resources Commission of Shenzhen Municipality)

Higher Density Standards Released
Shenzhen recently updated the provisions related to density zoning and plot ratio in the "Shenzhen Urban Planning Standards and Guidelines", and these have now been officially implemented.

The core of the main central areas of the city are included in density areas 1 and 2 respectively, whilst most urban construction areas are included in density area 3. Ecological and sensitive landscape areas areas are divided into areas 4 and 5.

Airports, ports, nuclear power plants and other special management areas are no longer included under density control.
​Benchmark plot ratios for residential land in density area 3 was increased from 2.8 to 3.0, and the upper limit of the plot ratio was increased from 5.0 to 5.5.

If residential land in area 3 is within 500 meters of a metro station, then the upper limit of its plot ratio can be implemented according to density areas 1 and 2. Plot ratio in area 4 was also increased from 2.2 to 2.5.
Additionally, the plot ratio of commercial and industrial land only specifies the benchmark of the land, and cancels the original upper limit.
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Dongguan Binhaiwan New Area is strategically located in the Greater Bay Area (Image: Dongguan Binhaiwan New Area Management Committee)

Dongguan

Master Plan for Dongguan Binhaiwan New Area
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Conceptual Planning Map of Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area (Image: Dongguan Binhaiwan New Area Management Committee)
An expert review meeting of the Urban Master Plan of the Binahiwan New Area of Dongguan district(2018-2035) passed the plan last month, providing the guidance for the area to commence a new stage of urban development.
The ​New Area of 84.1 km2 in size is located around the historic centre of Humen city, located at the core of the Greater Bay Area between Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The location advantage is significant.
​According to the plan, the Coastal Bay New Area is divided into three major sections:-
  • Weiyuan Island - Ecological and Cultural Zone. 
  • Shajiao - International Exchange and Service Zone,
  • Jiaoyiwan Bay - Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Cooperation and Innovation Zone
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Industrial Planning Map of Dongguan Binhaiwan Bay Area (Image: Dongguan Binhaiwan New Area Management Committee)
​The new area is expected to be built within 16 years with 8 railway lines, 4 highways and one port, and is intended to play a special role absorbing the overflow of population from the surrounding mega-cities of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Greater Bay Area

Policy Updates
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The Greater Bay Area is a highly populated and well connected city cluster. (Image: the Economist)
The integration of the Greater Bay Area is a major strategic initiative of the Chinese government's development goals. The strategic positioning of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and its major cities was further clarified this month through the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council (HMO).

It is intended that the major cities of Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen will play the leading roles according to their comparative advantages in driving overall development of the region and in sharing of the benefits.

Hong Kong
  • positioned as leading finance platform, transportation and trade center;
  • promote high-end and high value added services in finance, commerce, logistics and professional services;
  • develop innovation and technology industries;
  • build an international legal and dispute resolution service center in the Asia-Pacific region.
​Macau
  • become a world centre of leisure and recreation;
  • function as trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries;
  • promote moderately diversified economic development.
Shenzhen
  • play a role as national economic centre and a national innovative hub;
  • strive to build itself into an innovative and creative city with world influence.
Guangzhou
  • play to a leading role as a national central city;
  • enhance the functions of international business, transportation, education and culture centre.
  
According to Zhang Xiaoming, director of the HMO, Greater Bay Area is positioned as a dynamic world-class city cluster, a global technology and innovation hub, a giant pivot of Belt and Road (B&R), a showcase for in-depth cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong, Macao, as well as a quality living circle to provide an ideal place for living, working and travelling.
​2018/11/28
HOUSING:
Up or Down? (October 2018)

2018/10/25
TRANSPORTATION:
Buses Moving Towards Automation

​​2018/09/06
ENVIRONMENT:
Tightening Air Pollution Controls​

2018/07/06
SOCIAL:
Increasing Rents Pressurise City Outskirts
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