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Friday 26 June 2015

Noida to advocate mixed land use policy



Even some time ago, Noida was known as an affordable residential destination to prospective home buyers. However, exclusive residential sectors are no more the USP of the city. The Government of Uttar Pradesh has approved the policy of mix land use in the satellite city of Delhi, which would allow industrial and residential property owners to make use of their lands for other purposes. Thus, those who want flats for sale in Noida have better property options.

However, the approval has been given not without condition. For instance, a property whose use is to be changed must be facing a road which is at least 24 metres wide. The property shall be considered for conversion in use purpose if a service or sector road or green belt is between the 24 metre wide road and the property. However, buildings are not permitted. Most of the arterial roads in Noida Master Plan Roads III, II and I, DSC Road and Udyog Marg are 24 metres wide or higher. Applicants are also liable to pay “impact fees” to Noida Authority. The approval given to the policy of mixed land use that was framed in 2013 by the Noida Authority was announced through gazette notification issued by the UP government on 27th March.

The policy also has a clause that says industrial and residential property allottees can convert them for mixed land use by paying a token conversion cost that has been defined to be 25% of the different between prevailing industrial and residential sector and the reservation price of commercial rate of the sector in which the property is situated. The identical formula shall be used for conversion of mixed land use from industrial and residential properties. According to Rama Raman, CEO and chairman of the Noida Authority, the impact fees shall have to be paid as lump sum.

An illustration to calculate impact fee is given below:

Consider a residential plot of 500 sq. ft. If the sector rate is Rs 100,000 per sq. m for the plot, while the commercial rate is Rs 200,000 per sq. m, then the conversion rate shall be 25 per cent of Rs 1 lakh, which is the different between the two rates, multiplied by 500. Therefore, for converting this plot of 500 sq. m for mixed land usage, applicants shall have to pay Rs 1.25 crores as impact fees.  

The floor area ratio or FAR and ground coverage shall be according to the prime land usage of this plot. Commercial rates shall be applicable in case of water and electricity. Allottees shall have to give provisions of parking within the premise according to the provisions made in the building regulations of Noida. Mixed land use shall be permitted on 25 per cent of the permitted FAR on the ground floor of industrial property. According to officials of the Noida Authority, banks and guesthouses shall be allowed on all the floors till the permitted FAR in case of resale properties in Noida.

The policy shall also give support amenities to allottees after converting it to mixed land usage according to the current zoning and buildings regulations of Noida’s Master Plan for 2031. For industrial plots, including banks, offices, showrooms for sale or display of industrial goods produced in the units, health club, crèche, gymnasium, day care centres, internet centres, taxi, dispensary and auto rickshaw stands. Support activities for housing plots include office, personal service shop, canteen, ATM, bank, health centre, dispensary and crèche.

The latest policy promotes compact and contained land use where a single site or building shall have all needed facilities such as health centres, offices, banks and guesthouse within boundaries. Globally town planners are advising mixed land use for providing facilities for play, work and living in the same locality. However commercial and residential combined use shall be regulated to prevent inconvenience to residents.

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