Henderson’s Plan For HK Harbourfront Commercial Site Gets Nod

HONG KONG – Sources who attended the Town Planning Board meeting revealed that Henderson Land Development’s design plan for a commercial site in Central has been approved by the government agency last Friday, reported Mingtiandi on Monday evening (20 February, SGT).

This means Henderson Land proposed HK$73 billion (US$9.3 billion) commercial development on New Central Harbourfront Site 3, which measures about 516,312 sq ft, is closer to fruition. Notably, the real estate developer submitted the plan in November 2022, after acquiring the commercial site with a record HK$50.8 billion bid in 2021.

With a gross floor area of up to 1.61 million sq ft, the proposed commercial project will contain 691,301 sq ft of office space and 923,285 sq ft of retail space and commercial spaces.

The development will consist of a retail podium with government, institutional, and public facilities. On top of the podium will stand three towers, of which, two will contain office space, while the 3rd one will have multi-purpose retail and event spaces.

The design for Site 3 was crafted by architects and engineers from Arup, Urbis, Lead8, Wong & Ouyang, and PWP Landscape Architecture, after the authorities provided planning and design requirements as well as broad development parameters for the site in 2016.

Moreover, the commercial project will be directly linked via a footbridge to nearby existing projects. Notably, the 3rd tower will stand in front of Jardine House and is across the Exchange Square complex.

Meanwhile, Henderson Land Development is also leasing office space at a soon-to-be completed office building a few blocks to the west of Site 3. In July 2022, US private equity firm Carlyle Group signed a deal to occupy 20,000 sq ft at the 36-storey office tower along Murray Road known as The Henderson.