Penang govt starts reviewing 2020 structure plan

THE Penang government has started reviewing the Penang Structure Plan 2020 after it reached its five-year term since being gazetted on June 28, 2007.

State Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said it was a statutory requirement under the Town and Country Planning Act for the state to re-examine the plan every five years.

"We have just recently started the review last month by having workshops for internal departments.

"Usually, it takes more than a year to complete the process; thus, we expect it to wrap up by end of next year," he told a press conference before launching the 'PIP Property and Home Showcase' in Penang Times Square on Friday.

Wong said its department had been assigned to spearhead the review exercise that involved consultation with stakeholders, non-governmental organisations and public.

"Throughout the process, we will incorporate the various issues and proposals raised in the press which included hillslope development.

"Subsequently, we will have an exhibition to display the amended structure plan for public review and hearing," he explained.

The structure plan is a policy framework and guidelines for spatial planning and physical development for the state.