Gov’t moves to strengthen urban renewal with possible land premium reductions

The government is now examining the possibility of waiving or reducing land premium payments for urban renewal initiatives as part of its efforts to strengthen redevelopment incentives, staying true to the governance principle of “pursuing new district development while not overlooking established neighborhoods.”

The first public consultation on the proposed amendment to Macau’s Urban Master Plan took place recently, with around 50 members of the public in attendance and several raising questions.

Key issues included the timeline for detailed planning, urban renewal incentives, demographic data and land reserves, as well as green transport initiatives.

Concerns were also expressed over the simultaneous rollout of major projects such as the Avenida Wai Long site, airport expansion, and the Taipa Grande Tunnel, with some questioning whether they would strain ecological limits and worsen traffic congestion.

Participants noted that only “Eastern District-2” currently benefits from a statutory detailed plan, leaving more than 94% of planning zones in the city without such coverage – a significant backlog in detailed planning.

The Land and Urban Construction Bureau (DSSCU) responded that detailed plans for Northern District-1, Outer Harbor District-1, Outer Harbor District-2, and Taipa Central District-2 were progressing as scheduled, with other zones to follow.

The bureau further stated that micro-district plans would be rolled out for Ilha Verde, the Science and Technology R&D Industrial Park, and a cultural and tourism precinct. It added that environmental and traffic assessments for the Avenida Wai Long site, airport expansion, and the Taipa Grande Tunnel projects had been conducted under the master plan, and that the overall proposals were considered viable.

Urban renewal has been designated as a key focus of the Third Five-Year Plan, with authorities pledging to promote the revitalization of older districts through various measures. DSSCU director Lai Weng Leong revealed: “We are planning infrastructure enhancement and beautification for several precincts and are also looking at premium waivers to boost redevelopment incentives.”

He noted that the government had already identified 39 sites across both new and old districts, some of which are currently being used as leisure areas, temporary parking lots, and sports grounds. Further environmental improvements to older neighborhoods will be rolled out progressively.

The bureau further stated that existing land reserves in Macau are adequate to meet future population needs, with detailed usage plans to be formulated according to social development trends. It pointed out that population projections have been adjusted from more than 800,000 to 703,000, and that sufficient land has been reserved to meet anticipated demand.

According to Lai, the master plan amendments following the review focus on two key areas: coordination with major public works projects and alignment with recently enacted laws, regulations, and studies.

He noted that the plan envisions a “happy, smart, sustainable, and resilient Macau,” with smart technologies, digitalization, and big data reflecting global urban development trends.

The plan’s overall framework already includes requirements for green buildings, green industries, and resource recycling. The latest revision adds zero-carbon or low-carbon targets for major precincts, alongside existing requirements for green coverage and clean energy use.