April 24 (Reuters) - York City and Rochdale on Friday issued a joint call for an overhaul of promotion rules ahead of a title-deciding clash on the final day of England's fifth-tier National League, with a place in League Two at stake.
Easier change-of-use bid: Property owners in the Unesco heritage site in George Town will soon be able to convert residential units into shophouses without a planning permission .
— CHAN BOON KAI/The Star GEORGE TOWN: Property owners in the Unesco World Heritage Site here will soon be able to convert residential units into shophouses without applying for planning permission. The new guideline, approved by the Penang Island City Council , will take effect on May 1 and applies within the heritage zone. MBPP mayor Datuk Rajendran P. Anthony said the revision removed the need for planning permission for certain change-of-use applications.
“Previously, applicants had to go through planning permission, which involves multiple departments, takes time, and incurs higher costs. “Now, they only need to submit building plans. This can shorten the process by about six to nine months,” he said at the council’s ordinary meeting at Penang City Hall yesterday. The guideline covers existing pre-war and post-war buildings that contribute to George Town’s heritage value, including those classified under styles such as Early Penang and Straits Eclectic.
“In both cases, whether the building is fully residential or already mixed-use, they no longer need to apply for planning permission to convert to commercial use,” he said. Under the guideline, terrace houses can be converted into shophouses, with commercial activities limited to the ground floor while upper floors remain residential. Additions are allowed within the existing building footprint but cannot involve additional storeys, preserving the original scale of heritage buildings.
Parking requirements remain in place, although developers may opt to pay a contribution in lieu, set at RM25,000 per car bay and RM2,500 per motorcycle bay if spaces cannot be provided. A separate contribution of RM100 per sq m will be imposed for conversions from residential to commercial use. MBPP said the updated guideline replaces earlier provisions to streamline approvals while maintaining controls to safeguard the site’s Outstanding Universal Value.
At the same meeting, MBPP received a metal plaque for the Unesco Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation 2025 for the Esplanade Seawall and Promenade project under the “New Design in Heritage Contexts” category, with special recognition for sustainable development.
Unesco World Heritage Site Property Owners Planning Permission Heritage Zone MBPP Commercial Use Building Plans Heritage Buildings Esplanade Seawall
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