Redevelopment of NGO Site Facilitation Scheme - Eligibility
All participating NGOs1 must fulfill the following criteria–
- A. the NGO is currently the beneficiary owner/grantee of the site in question;
- B. the site area should not in general be less than 2,000 square metres2；
- C. the main structure(s) on the site should be aged at least 30 years;and
- D. the site should be located in areas with a general development intensity of plot ratio 5.0 or above3.
All things being equal, priority will be given to redevelopment proposals containing a critical mass of housing element, taking into account the emphasis on increasing housing supply under this particular policy initiative.
IMPORTANT
- Unlike the Special Sites Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses (Special Sites Scheme) launched by the Labour and Welfare Bureau4, the Scheme is not confined to welfare sites for welfare use. It covers also sites held by NGOs where the existing uses are not welfare services (e.g. schools, places of worship etc.); it also allows flexibility in the uses of additional floor space upon redevelopment for non-welfare purposes, including for instance residential, commercial, religious and community uses.
- For NGOs which have already joined the Special Sites Scheme and are now at the stage of conducting technical feasibility study as approved by the Social Welfare Department, their submissions will not be considered under the Scheme.
- The organisations should primarily be those providing subvented services as listed on the Social Welfare Department’s website (https://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_links/page_ngowebsite/?).
- URA can consider sites with area less than 2,000m2, if there are opportunities for the site to amalgamate with adjoining site(s) to form a more comprehensive development.
- Plot ratio refers to the ratio between the gross floor area of a building (as defined under Regulation 23(3)(a) of the Building (Planning) Regulations) and the area of the site on which it is erected.
- The Special Sites Scheme was launched in September 2013 to assist NGOs in providing or increasing on their own sites, through expansion, redevelopment or new development, those welfare facilities considered by the Government as being in acute demand falling into three categories, namely elderly, rehabilitation and child care services.