They knew that an application had been submitted to Unesco a few years ago for George Town to be listed as a World Heritage site. An updated dossier was submitted on 23 August 2007. At the very least, they knew the area is an historical site.
So why did they, how could the previous administration (three approvals) and the current adminstration (one approval) approve high-rise buildings in the heritage zone? That’s why I found it hard to celebrate the World Heritage listing.
In the heritage core zone (guidelines: max 5-storey/18-metre height restriction; tighter restrictions in certain areas):
- AGB Sdn Bhd’s RM500 million “The Pier at Weld Quay” project including the 13-storey, 51-metre high, 100-room Rice Miller boutique hotel at Weld Quay: 100,000 sq feet commercial plaza, 160,000 sq feet retail podium, 23 small office-house-office (Soho) townhouses and 105 condominiums;
- Boustead’s RM100 million 12-storey, 51-metre high, Royale Bintang Hotel (4-star, 295-room) project behind the post office in Downing Street;
In the heritage buffer zone (guidelines: 5-storey/18-metre height restriction):
- Low Yat Group’s 23-storey, 84-metre high project along Millionaire’s Row (Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah);
- E&O Hotel’s 17-storey, 84-metre high extension.
