The Town Planning Board has upheld amendments to the draft Southwest Kowloon Outline Zoning Plan after considering objections to it.

The board received 11 objections after the area earmarked for a cultural district was rezoned. Ten of the objections relate to the planning and development issues of the cultural district project.

The main concerns are on the appropriateness of the zoning, the planning control for the district, the role of the board in the development process, and the impact on nearby developments.

After careful consideration, the board decided there was no need to propose any amendment as the concerns of the objectors had been addressed.

Greater flexibility

Given the scale, nature and development time span of the area, the zoning is needed to allow a greater degree of design flexibility for the proponents to come up with the best proposal, it said.

Such zoning has been adopted before as in the case of the development of the new airport at Chek Lap Kok.

The board said the public can give their views as the Legislative Council will be consulted on the preferred development scheme, before its final approval by the Chief Executive in Council.

To enhance consensus building within the community, the board urged the Government to consult the public at every key stage of the selection process. This will allow maximum public scrutiny of the process.