The policy on lease modification, to permit change of use for sites previously granted by private treaty (PTG), should be maintained, a Government review suggests.

A recent review found that all applications have to undergo vigorous policy vetting and thorough consideration to ensure the public interest is best served. Each application for PTG will ultimately come before the Executive Council, which will consider its individual merits, or considered by delegated authority exercised in accordance with the approval criteria set by ExCo. These safeguards ensure each PTG case approved is made in the overall public interest.

Applications for lease modification are usually considered if:

* the former permitted use is already obsolete due to changing circumstances;

* a change in the original land use of the PTG site is confirmed through the statutory town planning procedure for other better uses; and,

* the applicant is prepared to pay full market premium.

If the grantee wishes to change the land use, they must demonstrate to the policy bureau concerned that the original use for which the land is granted has been superseded. It has to be confirmed through the statutory town planning process that the intention for the lot has changed, before application consideration will be given.