HCM CITY — HCM City authorities have approved a 1/2,000-scale zoning plan for the Bà Điểm social housing urban area, covering about 191.6 hectares and designed to accommodate an estimated 67,465 people.

The zoning plan, approved by the Bà Điểm Commune People's Committee, covers a total study area of more than 205 hectares, with more than 200 hectares included in the planning area.

After about 8.6 hectares is reserved for the Ring Road No. 3 project, the area available for development will be about 191.6 hectares.

The project is planned as a new urban area in northern HCM City, combining housing with education, healthcare, commercial and service facilities, green spaces and technical infrastructure.

The project has an estimated investment of more than VNĐ64.1 trillion (US$2.4 billion). Residential land will cover about 37.8 hectares, with a maximum construction density of 40 per cent. Buildings can reach up to 35 storeys, with a maximum floor-area ratio of 10 times.

About 18 hectares will be allocated to service facilities, more than 14 hectares to transport infrastructure, nearly 14 hectares to green space and 12.6 hectares to education facilities, including kindergartens, primary schools and lower-secondary schools.

About 84 hectares will be outside residential units, including more than 40 hectares of water surface and 15.4 hectares of green space.

The plan also sets aside nearly 3.5 hectares for healthcare facilities, including a hospital, and 2.75 hectares for schools.

Underground parking facilities and infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations are also planned.

The Ring Road No. 3 section running through the area will have a planned right-of-way of 74.5 metres.

Other roads with widths of 19 to 30 metres will connect the urban area with the surrounding transport network, improving accessibility once the project is completed.

The locality is now preparing a 1/500-scale detailed plan and collecting public feedback this month.

The next steps will include selecting investors and completing the legal procedures required for project implementation.

The Bà Điểm social housing urban area is part of the city's efforts to accelerate social housing development amid a shortage of affordable homes.

According to the municipal Department of Construction, 22 social housing projects with nearly 19,900 apartments are under construction, equivalent to 69.7 per cent of the city's target of 28,500 units.

Since the beginning of the year, 10 projects with more than 11,300 apartments have broken ground.

In addition, 89 projects with about 97,100 apartments have investors and completed the necessary procedures, the department said.

The city plans to break ground on another five social housing projects around the National Day on September 2, with a combined scale of about 10,000 apartments. — VNS