MPPP revises plot ratio for high-rise properties

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) has revised the plot ratio guidelines for high-rise properties on the island to allow developers to construct a total of 122,000 sq ft per acre compared with 42,000 sq ft per acre previously.

Real Estate Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda, Penang) chairman Datuk Jerry Chan told StarBiz that developers could now develop up to 87 units, with a total built-up area of 122,000 sq ft per acre.


Datuk Jerry Chan ... More flexibility for developers

“The condition that comes with the new plot ratio guidelines is that 5% of the units is to be sold at not more than RM200,000.

“Another 10% is to be sold below RM300,000, and another 5% at a price not exceeding RM500,000,” he said.

The new plot ratio guidelines are applicable in areas where it is allowed to develop 30 units per acre and above, according to the local control plan, and in areas designated as commercial/tourism areas under the MPPP’s structural planning and development control plan.

The new plot ratio guidelines are not applicable for prime residential areas such as Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (popularly known as Ayer Rajah Road), Jesselton area, existing established housing zones and general housing areas, George Town Heritage Site (which includes the buffer zone), certain areas in Tanjung Bungah and Tanjung Tokong.

These terms and conditions were communicated to Rehda Penang and other professional bodies in a letter dated July 28, 2010.

Chan said the MPPP also implemented in July the Green Building Index (GBI) guideline to encourage the development of green development projects.

“According to the GBI, if the project qualifies for the platinum and gold standard of the GBI, the developer can still pay the old development charges of RM5 per sq ft and RM7 psf respectively for residential and commercial properties.

“If the project fails to qualify for either the platinum and gold standard, the developer will have to pay triple the amount,” he said.

Chan said the 122,000 sq ft built-up area per acre was still lower than the guidelines for super-condominium projects which could exceed 180,000 sq ft built-up area per acre.

“The new plot ratio guidelines will see the development of more affordable high-rise properties priced from RM200,000 to suit different ages and budgets,” he said.

Previously, the plot ratio guideline for high-rise on the island was 60 units per acre or 42,000 sq ft per acre.

“This means a developer could either build 60 units of 700 sq ft apartments or 30 units of 1,400 sq ft apartments. Each unit must also have three bedrooms.

“The old plot ratio guideline, which had been enforced for over 30 years, was inflexible and did not give the developer the room to construct units of mixed sizes and lay-outs and price them according to the needs of different income groups,” he said.

By The Star