Ta Kwu Ling University Town to nearly double to 75 hectares with HKAPA campus site
The Development Bureau plans to expand Ta Kwu Ling University Town from 40 to 75 hectares, reserving seven hectares for a second Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts campus. The wider Ta Kwu Ling New Development Area will grow by 20 per cent to 250 hectares, providing 13,000 homes and 27,000 jobs.
The Development Bureau has proposed nearly doubling the area of Ta Kwu Ling University Town from 40 to 75 hectares, with about seven hectares set aside for a second campus of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), according to a paper submitted to the North District Council.
The government plans to expand the priority development area near Heung Yuen Wai in the Ta Kwu Ling New Development Area by 20 per cent to 250 hectares. The area is expected to provide around 13,000 residential units and create 27,000 jobs. Detailed design and construction tenders are scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of 2027, alongside environmental impact assessments.
The expanded University Town will cover 10 sites along the Ping Yuen River and the Shenzhen River. Institutions in the campus zone will be allowed to develop shared facilities, including libraries, sports grounds, laboratories and student dormitories. Four land parcels next to Heung Yuen Wai Enterprise Park will be designated for education-compatible industrial uses to promote collaboration among industry, academia and research institutions.
A central river-valley open space will serve as the southern entrance to the campus, with nearby buildings subject to a 60-metre height limit. A residential community to the southeast will provide for the daily living and recreational needs of university staff, students and visitors.
The government also plans to develop a border economy in the new development area. Heung Yuen Wai town centre will be developed primarily at high density. Private housing is planned for a mixed-use zone east of the proposed railway station, targeting business executives, high-end talent and frequent cross-border travellers. Land near the station will be reserved for public housing estates to rehouse affected residents.
Land resumption and clearance are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2028, with land formation due to start in the fourth quarter. The first plots, including parts of the University Town, are expected to be ready by 2030 at the earliest, and the first batch of residents is expected to move in by 2035. Affected households and businesses required to vacate from mid-2028 will receive compensation and rehousing support under established mechanisms.