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New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang defends condo plan amid outcry over Boon Siew Villa demolition [WATCH]
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has confirmed that all technical and safety requirements have been met for a luxury condominium project along Jalan Batu Ferringhi, despite public concern over traffic congestion and safety in the area. The Ascott Residences project, which will comprise 99 units of high-end condominiums on a narrow stretch of road near a bend, was approved on Nov 20, last year. State Local Government Committee chairman H'ng Mooi Lye said the building plan, together with all conditions set by all technical departments, including the Fire and Rescue Department, was subsequently approved on April 9, this year. This comes after Sahabat Alam Malaysia honorary secretary S. Mageswari told the New Straits Times that they are very concerned that yet another condominium project would be built in Batu Ferringhi. She said SAM believes that development projects such as this should not be approved without a Local Plan to ensure that development and land use planning are properly managed with proper accountability and transparency. "This begs the question of how these projects are being approved by the Penang Island City Council. "Were safety aspects, traffic, density, setback areas to protect the natural shoreline, and environmental considerations taken into account?" she asked. H'ng, in response to concerns about worsening traffic congestion along the already busy Jalan Batu Ferringhi, said the Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) was conducted and approved on Jan9, this year. "One of the key technical departments involved in the planning approval process is the Fire and Rescue Department, and its conditions must be strictly adhered to. "The building plan has been approved, including the conditions imposed by the Fire and Rescue Department," he told the New Straits Times. The New Straits Times reported today that Penang's rich heritage has once again suffered a blow with the loss of one of its iconic landmarks. The Boon Siew Villa, once a majestic coastal home at Shamrock Beach in Jalan Batu Ferringhi, has been demolished to make way for a luxury development. Hoarding has been erected around the site, and a construction crew has moved in to begin building the 43-storey Ascott Residences Batu Ferringhi condominium project. The loss was felt not just by the people who lived near the villa, which stood as a symbol of old Penang, but also heritage advocates who saw it as another blow to the state's historical landscape. Meanwhile, local historian, former Penang Island City Council councillor, and content creator John Oh expressed sadness over the loss of yet another iconic building, even as he acknowledged the need for development and a strong property industry in Penang. He said, although the villa represents only a recent chapter of 'postwar urban history,' the tragedy associated with it and the stories surrounding the house, familiar to the recent generation, are almost reminiscent of the mysteries found in the novels of Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. "Recognising the significance of this building, when we received information of the development, we decided to do a tribute content on the building so that the stories and memories of this iconic house may be preserved for the future. "We believe we are the last to document the account of the villa before its demolition," he said.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sheffield's Local Plan: What it means for you
Campaigners gathered outside Sheffield Town Hall earlier this month to protest against plans to build on 14 green belt sites in the city. Inside the Town Hall, councillors were voting to give the go-ahead to the proposals, which are a part of what is known as the Local Plan - a blueprint for the development of the city in the next decade and beyond. Since details of the Local Plan first emerged, thousands of residents across Sheffield have joined together to campaign against it. But why has the Local Plan become such a contentious and controversial issue - and what will it actually mean for communities in the city? The Local Plan examines how a town or city will develop over the next 15 years. In it, a council designates land to be used for housing, industry or green space. Currently, Sheffield does not have a Local Plan. The last one was in 2009, based on documents produced in 1998, and the new plan has been repeatedly postponed for many years. On 14 May, councillors voted for the first stage of a new Local Plan which, in total, could see nearly 40,000 new homes constructed in Sheffield by 2039. No single party is in overall control of the authority, so Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party all worked together to choose the sites. Councillor Douglas Johnson, chairman of the housing committee, said: "Sheffield's current Local Plan is extremely out of date and this leaves lots of loopholes open for developers to exploit. "Without a new one, ultimately the government could step in and set its own plan, which would be much worse for the city." As total of 3,539 new houses, as well as schools, cemeteries and industrial units, have now been approved by councillors for 14 green belt sites. Campaigners have said they are worried not just about the loss of green space, but the new infrastructure needed for hundreds of homes and schools. Deborah Nutbrown, a campaigner from Chapeltown, said there had been very little information. "It's extremely frustrating. It feels as if it's totally been forced upon us," she said. Sheffield City Council has said it had exhausted all its brownfield sites, but even after building on the 14 proposed sites, 96% of the green belt would remain untouched and protected. Several of the earmarked sites are in areas which are key election battlegrounds, such as Woodhouse, where the Lib Dems won by just 10 votes in a recent by-election, while in West Ecclesfield the Lib Dems won by only 78 votes in 2024. The majority of the sites which have been given the go-ahead are in the S35 and S13 postcodes, which has angered some residents who have said the developments should be more spread out across the city. Residents in Handsworth have collected a 3,700-signature petition, and protest groups have also been formed in Wharncliffe Side, Ecclesfield and Chapeltown. More than 1,730 homes are planned in Handsworth, and Sheffield South East Labour MP Clive Betts has written to the Planning Inspectorate asking for a fairer distribution. Betts said: "Handsworth currently faces over 40% of the new allocation of housing on green belt. I am not convinced these proposals are fair." Sheffield City Council has said it would look at whether other areas of the city could be brought forward so there was a fairer distribution of houses. The government has said it wanted to see 1.5 million new homes built across the country by 2029 in a bid to solve the housing crisis and boost economic growth. In total, Sheffield is expected to see the construction of 38,000 new homes and 655 acres (265 hectares) of employment land, with Sheffield City Council saying tens of thousands of new jobs would be created up to 2039. Council leader Tom Hunt said: "Sheffield has not been building enough homes for a long time, and to tackle the housing crisis you need a plan. "We don't want to build tiny box homes that are no good for families - and the golden rule is sites must have affordable homes." A public consultation has been launched by Sheffield City Council and will run until the middle of July. The responses will be reviewed by government inspectors. There will then be a series of public hearings in the autumn. Inspectors will then publish a preliminary report with further public consultation early in 2026. Inspectors are expected to issue a final report and the council will decide whether to adopt the Local Plan in July 2026. Each individual development would then need to go through the normal planning process. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North Thousands of homes approved for green belt sites Plans to build on 14 green belt sites criticised Some councils ordered to increase home building by 400%, new BBC tracker shows Sheffield Council's Local Plan
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Sheffield's Local Plan: What it means for you
Campaigners gathered outside Sheffield Town Hall earlier this month to protest against plans to build on 14 green belt sites in the the Town Hall, councillors were voting to give the go-ahead to the proposals, which are a part of what is known as the Local Plan - a blueprint for the development of the city in the next decade and details of the Local Plan first emerged, thousands of residents across Sheffield have joined together to campaign against why has the Local Plan become such a contentious and controversial issue - and what will it actually mean for communities in the city? What is a Local Plan? The Local Plan examines how a town or city will develop over the next 15 years. In it, a council designates land to be used for housing, industry or green Sheffield does not have a Local Plan. The last one was in 2009, based on documents produced in 1998, and the new plan has been repeatedly postponed for many 14 May, councillors voted for the first stage of a new Local Plan which, in total, could see nearly 40,000 new homes constructed in Sheffield by single party is in overall control of the authority, so Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party all worked together to choose the Douglas Johnson, chairman of the housing committee, said: "Sheffield's current Local Plan is extremely out of date and this leaves lots of loopholes open for developers to exploit. "Without a new one, ultimately the government could step in and set its own plan, which would be much worse for the city." Why is Sheffield's Local Plan so controversial? As total of 3,539 new houses, as well as schools, cemeteries and industrial units, have now been approved by councillors for 14 green belt have said they are worried not just about the loss of green space, but the new infrastructure needed for hundreds of homes and Nutbrown, a campaigner from Chapeltown, said there had been very little information. "It's extremely frustrating. It feels as if it's totally been forced upon us," she City Council has said it had exhausted all its brownfield sites, but even after building on the 14 proposed sites, 96% of the green belt would remain untouched and of the earmarked sites are in areas which are key election battlegrounds, such as Woodhouse, where the Lib Dems won by just 10 votes in a recent by-election, while in West Ecclesfield the Lib Dems won by only 78 votes in 2024. What's happening in my neighbourhood? The majority of the sites which have been given the go-ahead are in the S35 and S13 postcodes, which has angered some residents who have said the developments should be more spread out across the in Handsworth have collected a 3,700-signature petition, and protest groups have also been formed in Wharncliffe Side, Ecclesfield and than 1,730 homes are planned in Handsworth, and Sheffield South East Labour MP Clive Betts has written to the Planning Inspectorate asking for a fairer said: "Handsworth currently faces over 40% of the new allocation of housing on green belt. I am not convinced these proposals are fair."Sheffield City Council has said it would look at whether other areas of the city could be brought forward so there was a fairer distribution of houses. Why does Sheffield need so many houses? The government has said it wanted to see 1.5 million new homes built across the country by 2029 in a bid to solve the housing crisis and boost economic total, Sheffield is expected to see the construction of 38,000 new homes and 655 acres (265 hectares) of employment land, with Sheffield City Council saying tens of thousands of new jobs would be created up to leader Tom Hunt said: "Sheffield has not been building enough homes for a long time, and to tackle the housing crisis you need a plan."We don't want to build tiny box homes that are no good for families - and the golden rule is sites must have affordable homes." How can I have my say? A public consultation has been launched by Sheffield City Council and will run until the middle of responses will be reviewed by government will then be a series of public hearings in the will then publish a preliminary report with further public consultation early in are expected to issue a final report and the council will decide whether to adopt the Local Plan in July individual development would then need to go through the normal planning process. Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Plans to build homes in Jubilee woodland criticised
Plans to build homes in a woodland created to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee have received objections from a civic society. Coventry City Council has submitted two planning applications which would see up to 18 self-build homes constructed in the meadows of Jubilee Wood in Keresley. However, the chair of the Coventry Society, Trevor Cornfoot, said despite Keresley Parish Council previously being told by the city council "no more land would be taken from the parish for housing", it was now wanting to "grab even more land". The BBC has approached the authority for comment. The city council's plan also included upgrades to vehicle access off Watery Lane, as well as the creation of new roads and access points into the two proposed sites, the society said. Coventry Society said the Keresley Urban Extension Design Guide 2019 showed that the woodland was "protected" as a greenfield site and had been "specifically detailed" within the city's Local Plan as "one of the protected woodlands within Coventry". Mr Cornfoot added that it appeared the 3,100 houses already detailed in the 2019 Guide "were not enough", as the authority wanted to "sacrifice" 25% of the woodland for more housing. The society said the parish council had worked alongside the city council at the site to plant saplings when the woodland was created in 2012. They also planted an oak tree in 2016 in honour of the late queen's 90th birthday. Two memorial trees were also added to the woodland by Keresley Parish Council in December 2023 to commemorate the reign of the late queen and the accession of King Charles III. The society claimed the council's proposal would see the new properties built where the trees were planted. It added that it supported land being designated for self-build housing but felt the homes should be "built on allocated sites" in line with the city's Local Plan. Mr Cornfoot said the society had called on the authority to withdraw the two applications and, if not, wanted the planning committee to "unanimously refuse them". Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Pond created as part of historic river restoration Cafe and community plans for rotten park pavilion Trees replanted at vandalised wood Coventry City Council Coventry Society
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bukit Lanchang rep: Penang has know-how to build quake-proof towers — so why haven't we used it?
GEORGE TOWN, May 19 — Batu Lanchang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong today proposed that technical guidelines for high-rise buildings in Penang be updated to include mandatory earthquake-resistant designs. The DAP lawmaker argued that new policies and guidelines must be formulated to compel all new high-rise projects to be earthquake-resistant. 'Adjustments to the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) and the Local Plan need to be made to suit current needs and address modern disaster risks,' Ong proposed while debating his motion of thanks to the Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri at the state legislative assembly today. He urged local councils and relevant agencies to conduct structural audits of existing buildings, particularly those exceeding 20 storeys or constructed before 2000. 'It is proposed that the state government introduce an Earthquake Protection Scheme similar to that practised in Taiwan, where earthquake disaster coverage is part of fire insurance policies,' he suggested. Ong also recommended the establishment of a Penang State Disaster Protection Fund in collaboration with the insurance and financial sectors. 'The safety of the people of Penang is our shared responsibility, so we should act before anything happens,' he said. Ong said the collapse of a 33-storey building in Bangkok, following tremors from a 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, should be a 'wake-up call' for Penang to strengthen its structural safety policies. He noted that Penang also experienced tremors from an earthquake in North Sumatra on May 11. 'Many residents in Batu Lanchang felt anxious and shocked, considering that this area houses numerous high-rise apartments,' Ong said, adding that hundreds of densely populated high-rise residential buildings are located in the Batu Lanchang area. Ong expressed shock that local authorities reportedly do not possess specific data on buildings designed to withstand earthquakes. 'This means there is no legal requirement so far to ensure that all high-rise buildings are constructed according to earthquake-resistant specifications,' he said. Pointing out that this issue was raised in the state legislative assembly 14 years ago, in 2011, he said there has been no significant change in policies, guidelines or legislation since. 'As far as I know, only two structures in Penang have been designed to withstand earthquakes since the 1980s until now,' he said. The two structures were the first Penang Bridge and Komtar Tower, which houses the Chief Minister's Office and the State Executive Council members. He said the structures were designed based on resilience to an earthquake strength of 7.0 on the Richter scale and within a 300-kilometre radius of the epicentre. 'This shows that the technical capability and structural planning for earthquake resistance exists so it is time that this technology and requirement be extended to all high-rise residential buildings,' he said.
