A HIGH-DENSITY and compact city form will be an ideal development pattern for Penang island as it is facing a shortage of land.

Penang Municipal Councillor Ng Chek Siang said Penang island was facing a shortage of land.

He said that forest reserves and hill land covered an estimated 52% of the island.

“Our current density/plot ratio is too low (1:5) compared to Singapore (1:12), Hong Kong (1:15) and Kuala Lumpur (1:10),” he said.

He said there were several advantages of having a high density and compact city form for the state.

“A compact city has population densities that are great enough to operate and maintain a sustainable public transport system,” he said during the Penang Municipal Council meeting held at the City Hall recently.

He said a compact city form could also create more efficient land use and would be more cost-effective in providing public services and facilities.

“In terms of transportation, Hong Kong has one of the lowest energy consumption per capita in the world.

“High density maximises the effectiveness of public transport while minimising the distance between the sites of day-to-day activities,” he said.

He added that it could also reduce energy and infrastructure costs.

“I also strongly recommend that plot ratio be used as a measure to determine the gross floor area in residential units per acre.

“It means that the developer can build smaller units and increase the affordable housing supply on the island to suit our future needs,” he said.

Source: The Star