More space for new residential towers, Thailand, Bangkok

BANGKOK: Bangkok’s new urban development plan will increase mixed-use areas, or orange zones, for high-rise residential units by 23 percent to about 349.95 square meters when it comes into force, possibly in 2025.

The new urban development plan was approved by the Bangkok City Administration (BMA) Advisory Committee at a meeting chaired by BMA Deputy Governor Wissanu Subsompon on 13 September 2023.

BMA officials said the next step would be to hold public hearings in Bangkok’s 50 districts. The hearings will begin in November and will be held in several rounds involving different groups of people such as citizens, specialists, experts and other organizations. Officials expect that the process may take a long time before the new urban development plan comes into effect by early 2025.

According to BMA officials, the new urban development plan envisages expanding mixed areas or orange zones from 248.08 sq km in the 2013 plan to 349.95 sq km.

Larger areas are planned to be allocated along the new electric railway lines. Designating these orange zones would allow developers to build high-rise residential units along the electric train routes.

The new urban development plan also stipulates reducing the area of ​​green areas from 240.32 square kilometers to 50.60 square kilometers.

Property developers said that after the implementation of the new city plan, eight areas will become development hotspots, including Ratchayothin in northern Bangkok, Don Mueang and Lakse, Lat Phrao and Ramintra, Srinakarin, Minburi, East Bangkok, Thalingchan and Tawi Wattana. Wongwian Yai Sokswad.