The Planning Department today updated the report on vacant school premises sites reviewed under the Central Clearing House mechanism after it examined the long-term use of 14 vacant and to-be-vacant school venues.

The review recommends eight such sites for housing development and the remaining six for government, institution or community (GIC) uses.

The department explained that since the launch of the Central Clearing House mechanism in 2011, it has reviewed 250 vacant or to-be-vacant school premises (VSP).

The majority of the VSP sites, comprising 161 such lots, have already been or will be put to gainful uses including public housing, transitional housing, GIC and short-term uses by non-governmental organisations.

Another 36 sites are available for application for community, institutional or non-profit-making uses on a short-term basis.

Furthermore, since 47 sites are wholly or partly on private land, their utilisation depends on the owners’ initiatives having regard to statutory planning terms and lease conditions.

The remaining six sites are currently not suitable nor available for uses due to site constraints or other reasons.

Click here for the report.