By Nikki De Guzman:
Cabinet has approved a new Bangkok City plan last Tuesday which will replace the one used since 2006 that is due to expire on 15 May. The new plan is deemed to open up new areas for development adjacent the mass-transit routes, according to property industry observers.
According to Panyapas Nopphan, Deputy Director-General of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Department of City Planning, the new “green” city plan will four categories, up from the old plan’s three categories of land use, mass transit and open spaces.
The additional category will be the city’s infrastructure system such as solid-waste disposal, drainage and wastewater management.
The new plan also revises the recognition of high-density locations, based on planned and existing routes of MRT and BTS Skytrain, will also be revised.
“We revised some locations that had been considered low-density to be categorised as high-density when the transit routes pass through them because of the rising demand to live close the mass-transit system based on our experience since the implementation of the BTS and MRT,” said Panyapas.
Some locations in the districts of Bangkok Noi, Bang Phlat and Thon Buri will be changed from high-density to moderate-population areas which will impact the areas to where property firms choose to develop commercial and residential buildings.
Panyapas added that the new Bangkok City Plan will also promote environment-friendly buildings through increasing floor area ratios in accordance with the guidance of the Thai Green Building Institute.
Pruksa Real Estate Chief Business Officer Prasert Taedullayasatit said details of the new plan have to be studied to support Bangkok’s business plan in the next five years. However, he expects the new high-density designation to pave the way for low-rise and condominium projects.
Nikki De Guzman, Junior Reporter at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email nikki@allproperty.com.sg
Get daily property news in Thai and English straight to your Inbox from Thailand’s number one property website. Subscribe today for free.