WELD QUAY DEVELOPMENT MUST FOLLOW HERITAGE GUIDELINES

GEORGE TOWN, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- The proposed Weld Quay Waterfront Development must comply with heritage guidelines in the buffer zone of the George Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, while also adhering to George Town’s city-wide 18-metre height limit.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that although the 5.36-hectare site is outside the core heritage zone, it remains subject to regulations set by state and national heritage authorities. Any proposal must balance development needs with heritage preservation.

“It is within a World Heritage buffer zone, so there are rules governing development. Developers must use creativity and innovation to deliver a project that suits the heritage setting while complying with the guidelines,” he said during an engagement session on the project at the Eastin Hotel here today.

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Chow added that all developments in George Town are capped at 18 metres, and developers will need to plan accordingly, with many projects already developed or being developed within this restriction.

Chow, who is also chairman of Penang Development Corporation (PDC), described the ongoing request for proposal (RFP) exercise as a strategic initiative to catalyse waterfront revitalisation while complementing George Town’s historical and cultural character.

He stressed that growth must respect history, noting that the site’s proximity to the clan jetties and other historical landmarks requires context-sensitive planning and design.

Strategically located along the seafront facing the mainland, the site is connected to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and provides access to the city centre and the Penang Bridge.

Connectivity is expected to improve further with a future Light Rail Transit (LRT) station at Macallum, linking the area to Penang Sentral. The project is expected to take five years to complete.

The mixed development is envisioned to deliver sustainable outcomes, including a structured housing scheme aimed at raising living standards while optimising land value through responsible redevelopment.

The proposed site spans approximately 13.25 acres in Section 23, Northeast District, with about 12.05 acres vested in the State Authority and the remaining 1.2 acres under PDC.

Chow said the site, located at the end of Pengkalan Weld, after the clan jetties and before Gat Lebuh Macallum, currently houses about 200 village homes occupied by families who have lived there for more than three generations.

He said the resettlement of Weld Quay and Cecil Residency squatters has been completed under the RFP process, with affected residents relocated to the newly built Cecil Residency nearby.

“At least the resettlement has already been completed, which is an advantage as the developer does not have to undertake that responsibility. However, the developer will have to reimburse PDC, which carried out the resettlement,” he added.

Chow said the state, through PDC, has set a reserve price for the land as a baseline valuation and urged tenderers to submit competitive bids, including additional guaranteed contributions to enhance the project’s overall value.

So far, four sets of tender documents, priced at RM5,000 each, have been sold. The submission deadline is March 26, and the tender is open to local and international companies or consortiums.

-- BERNAMA