Northern Metropolis to streamline land approval process from 9 to 2 months: sources

2026.03.16 13:50 The Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area in Tuen Mun. Photo: Eugene Lee Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis near the border with mainland China will adopt laws to streamline land approval procedures from nine to two months in a move to speed up its development, the South China Morning Post has learned. Sources told the SCMP that details of the dedicated legislation for the Northern Metropolis would be announced on Tuesday, with a major highlight being the shortening of land-use approval procedures. These measures align with the newly unveiled 15th national five-year plan, emphasising the city’s role as an international financial hub. The blueprint highlights the city’s role in strengthening offshore renminbi business, bolstering supply chain services and accelerating the Northern Metropolis megaproject. The Northern Metropolis project, first announced in 2021, aims to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) of land into an engine for economic growth and a housing hub. It was understood that the government aimed to shorten the process of changing land use to as short as two months. Currently, developers are required to submit an application to the Town Planning Board, attend meetings and undergo consultations to change the land use specified in the outline zoning plan. The process usually takes around nine months. In contrast, applications that only require planning permission with no change in land uses can be processed in as little as two months. “The town planning process will be streamlined under the proposal so that [developers] will not be required to submit an application to change the land use,” the source said. The government was expected to provide further specifics on Tuesday, another insider added. Meanwhile, the legal framework is expected to be discussed at a meeting of Legco’s development panel on March 24. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho earlier told the legislature’s development panel that authorities would propose th

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