(1) Peel Street / Graham Street Development Scheme
A. Project Location and Area
Located at Peel Street/Graham Street in the Central & Western District
Bounded by Peel Street, Graham Street, Gage Street, Wellington Street,
Cochrane Street, Gutzlaff Street, Staveley Street and Kin Sau Lane
Site area: 5,330 square metres
Existing gross floor area (GFA): 20,219 square metres
Affected no. of buildings: 37
Affected population: 823
Affected property interests: 360
Affected shops: 78
Project Development Information
Total GFA: 68,533 square metres
No. of flats: 293
Commercial GFA: 44,575 square metres
G/IC GFA: 1,260 square metres
Open Space: 2,060 square metres
1
B. Project Overview
The 37 buildings in the redevelopment area were constructed predominantly in the 1950s and 1960s, including three prewar shop houses. Most of the buildings in the project area are dilapidated. The living condition is poor, and the area lacks
community facilities and public open spaces.
The URA submitted the Master Layout Plan of the project to the Town Planning Board (TPB) in early 2007, and it was
Key features of the Master Layout Plan include the preservation and adaptive re-use of the pre-war shop houses on Graham
approved in May of the same year.
Street, the preservation of the facade of Wing Wo Grocery and maintaining the vibrancy of the street market nearby,
provision of a two-storey wet market complex to accommodate wet market shops now operating in the project area,
The project was commenced in July 2007. Acquisition offers were issued to the property owners in October 2007.
provision of a multi-purpose activity hall and more public open space.
In order to allow fresh-food operators to continue their businesses during redevelopment, the URA revised its Master
The open market is a characteristic feature of the district. In order to save the shrinking market and enhance its vibrancy, a
Layout Plan, which was approved by the TPB in January 2009.
caring and sustainable approach has been adopted in the planning process and the design of the development such as phased
redevelopment for temporal re-site of current market stakeholders and the installation of safety hoardings. During the
Balloting for alternative shop premises that these fresh-food operators could eventually relocate to, took place in May 2010.
construction period, the URA is also providing temporary market sites for shops that sell perishable foodstuffs for keeping
the vibrancy of the market. Such arrangement will postpone the completion of the project for 24 months and the URA will
Installation of purpose-built electricity meters for retained on-street hawkers near the project on Peel Street and Graham
have to invest $ 200 million more.
Street commenced in March 2011.
In April 2012, the URA announced that Site B of the project was awarded to Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited after
completion of the tender procedure. Acquisition of outstanding interests in Site A & C is still underway.
C. Project Progress
D. Project Consultation
I.
Importance of Public Participation
Urban renewal involves balancing the interests of various stakeholders and community participation is essential. Through
extensive public engagement to gauge the public views, urban renewal projects are planned and designed in the best interest
and aspirations of the community.
Central & Western District is enriched with cultural heritage. The URA paid special attention to local characteristics when
designing and planning the project, in close collaboration with residents’ representatives and other stakeholders.
In December 2010, the URA organised a six-week shoppers’ reward scheme designed to attract the public to visit and
experience the market for boosting economy there. In January 2012, the URA launched another bigger promotional activity
with over 90 shop and stall operators participated. In addition, the URA also introduced the new design of the stalls to those
operators. The newly designed stalls are not only popular among the stalls operators but also caught the eyes of oversea
counterparts.
2
II.
Consultation Activities
E. The New Face After Renewal
The Peel Street/Graham Street Development Scheme comprises three sites (A, B and C). There will be two residential
blocks in Sites A and B, a hotel and an office building in Site C. Retail activities will be concentrated on the podium of the
three sites. A strong open space spine accentuated with piazzas and courtyard spaces is also proposed across the centre of
the development to connect the three sites and to create a lush green setting for the development.
Open Market
In order to preserve the vibrancy of a century old wet market which falls outside the project boundary, the URA has
taken the initiative to help improve the business environment and local characteristics so as to encourage the existing
shop operators to continue their businesses. In addition, the fresh-food operators can choose to operate in the low-rise
retail block upon completion of the first site.
The project includes the building of a two-storey retail shop complex for wet market shops, to be easily accessible
all directions.
Arrangements
made soengaged
that thewith
existing
wet market
shopsand
willother
be moved
back once
the2005;
Infrom
planning
for this project,
the URAwill
hasbe
regularly
the local
community
stakeholders
since
new complex is completed. The design will improve the operating environment and pedestrian flow, and create
the current
street
A synergy
heritagewith
advisory
panel was
setmarket.
up under the Central & Western District Advisory Committee, to collect views from
District Council members, local community leaders, experts, and representatives of residents and hawkers;
To understand the needs of hawkers, URA has communicated closely with relevant government departments, District
Council and hawker representatives;
featurethe
of URA
the project
to accommodate
the hawkers
onMeeting
Graham on
Street,
and incorporate
designs
relating
to the
InAnother
August 2008,
held aispublic
briefing namely
“A Focus
Initiatives
for Maintaining
and
Enhancing
the
livelihoods
of
earlier
residents
into
the
areas
around
Site
C.
At
one
end
of
the
street
will
be
the
façade
of
Wing
Local Character and Vibrancy of the Peel Street/Graham Street Development Scheme”, at which it introduced its preliminary
Woo Grocery,
and at the
end three
shop houses
26A-26C
The
architectural
will
proposal
for preserving
the other
key features
of pre-war
the surrounding
area at
and
the streetGraham
marketStreet.
near the
project
site, anddesign
collected
create
an
interaction
of
new
with
old,
highlighting
the
urban
designs
and
living
of
the
residents
in
the
past.
feedback from the public;
Also in August 2008, two one-on-one questionnaire surveys were carried out;
A series of briefings were held for the affected residents and shop operators, explaining the project progress and the
prevailing acquisition and compensation arrangements.
An urban renewal social service team of St. James’ Settlement was appointed to provide practical and professional assistance
to the affected residents, especially the elderly, physically handicapped, new arrivals and single-parent families;
A Neighbourhood Centre was set up at Gage Street to handle residents enquiries;
A “New Face in Central” Exhibition was held at the Western Market.
Harmony of Old and New
3
Community Facilities