Source: Sany Heavy Industry
Key Highlights
█ Central Government Sets a Roadmap for Future Urban Development
The recently released document titled “Several Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Further Strengthening the Management of Urban Planning and Construction” supports the Central Urban Work Conference, which has been reinstated after 37 years. It presents a comprehensive “roadmap” addressing urban development challenges during the 13th Five-Year Plan and beyond, outlining practical measures and timelines to guide China’s urban growth.
█ Strict Accountability for Urban Planning Violations
To address difficulties in enforcing urban planning, the document reinforces the mandatory nature of planning by declaring that “any violation of planning must be seriously investigated and held accountable.” Amendments to overall urban plans require approval from the original authority and must be submitted to the Standing Committee of the corresponding National People’s Congress for review, preventing arbitrary or unauthorized changes at a systemic level.
█ Embracing the ‘Eight Characters’ Policy to Combat Architectural Excess
The document responds to issues such as cities pursuing oversized, foreign-flattering, or eccentric architectural designs lacking distinctive local features and cultural heritage. It introduces the “Eight Characters” building policy emphasizing applicability, economy, green, and beauty, aiming to curb superficial architectural trends. It also calls for stronger oversight of public buildings and restrictions on excessively tall structures. The policy encourages competition among domestic and international architectural firms, fostering architects with both global perspectives and national pride, and promotes rigorous architectural reviews.
█ Prefabricated Buildings to Account for 30% of New Housing in the Next Decade
Prefabricated construction, which reduces waste and dust pollution by assembling building blocks and manufacturing houses on assembly lines, will be promoted extensively in China. The document targets achieving a 30% share of prefabricated buildings in new construction within approximately ten years, while actively advancing steel-structure buildings. It also advocates for the development of modern wooden architecture where conditions permit.
█ Urban Housing Reform Focuses on Two Main Directions
The reform strategy outlined in the document focuses on two key approaches: the government will guarantee basic housing needs for disadvantaged groups, while the market will meet the diverse housing demands of other residents. The plan includes a three-year campaign to promote prefabricated construction in shantytown renovations, with the goal of largely completing the upgrade of existing urban shantytowns, urban villages, and unsafe housing by 2020.
█ China to Phase Out Closed Residential Communities
The document proposes promoting a block system for new residential developments, moving away from enclosed residential compounds. Existing gated communities and unit courtyards should gradually open up, allowing public access to internal roads to improve transportation networks and enhance land use efficiency. Additionally, it encourages adopting an urban road layout characterized by “narrow roads and dense networks,” constructing a hierarchical road system including expressways, main roads, secondary roads, and branch roads.
█ Urban Parks to Be Open and Free for Residents
The plan calls for expanding green spaces within cities, ensuring residents have easy access to nearby parks and greenery. Urban parks should, in principle, be freely accessible to the public. The document also mandates clearing illegally occupied public spaces within a specified timeframe to enhance community access to green areas.
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