The city of Busan is scrapping the pre-screening process, long cited as the biggest obstacle to redevelopment and reconstruction projects, and launching a drive to speed up urban renewal. The plan aims to shorten project timelines by eliminating duplicate reviews, while expanding expert advisory input and public participation to enhance both profitability and public interest.
Busan said it would implement the revised "2030 Basic Plan for Urban and Residential Environment Improvement" starting Wednesday. Finalized after review by the Urban Planning Committee in April, the plan focuses on streamlining the early stages of renewal projects and strengthening public support.
The biggest change is the abolition of the "preliminary feasibility review," which had been a mandatory step before designating new renewal zones. Critics had consistently pointed out that the preliminary feasibility review and the renewal zone designation review were effectively duplicated, lengthening project timelines and increasing residents' burden of early consulting costs.
In its place, the city is introducing "renewal project MP (Master Planner) meetings," which involve experts across fields including urban planning, architecture, landscape, transportation and design. The MP meetings will comprehensively review infrastructure placement, links to neighboring areas and public contribution measures from the renewal plan drafting stage, presenting a high-quality development direction from the early stages of a project.
The public role will also be strengthened. Moving away from the resident-led method of drafting renewal plans, the city will expand its "renewal plan drafting request" system, in which the public participates from the outset. The city plans to establish project priorities and selection criteria to encourage planned renewal projects, securing both public interest and profitability.
Projects pursued through the public drafting request method will also receive a floor area ratio incentive of up to 5%. The measure is intended to increase profitability, thereby expanding resident participation and accelerating project progress.
Measures to block speculation will also be strengthened. Going forward, the rights assessment reference date, which serves as the basis for calculating sale entitlements, will be moved earlier to the date of the renewal plan drafting proposal or drafting request. The intent is to fundamentally block speculative demand entering through so-called "share-splitting" while administrative procedures are underway.
The city expects that the improvements will reduce unnecessary administrative procedures in renewal projects while strengthening the public sector's planning function, shortening project timelines and enhancing urban competitiveness.
"This revision of the basic plan is a measure to lower the threshold for renewal projects and simplify procedures to accelerate improvements in the residential environment," said Kim Hyo-suk, director of the city's Housing and Architecture Bureau. "We will focus not only on speed but also on creating dignified and harmonious urban spaces through MP advisory input."
