Seoul eases building rules in 7 natural landscape zones, raising lot coverage to 40%

Seoul will ease building regulations in seven district unit planning zones within natural landscape districts, including Buam-dong and Jeongneung 3-dong.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Thursday that its 4th Joint Urban-Architecture Committee delegated subcommittee met Wednesday and approved, with modifications, a proposal to revise the district unit plans for seven zones, including the Buam-dong district unit planning zone.

The decision is intended to incorporate into district unit plans the provisions of the Seoul Urban Planning Ordinance revised last September. To swiftly apply the eased building restrictions within natural landscape districts, the city carried out a blanket revision of seven zones, excluding areas already undergoing individual redevelopment or subject to other management measures.

The seven district unit planning zones covered are Buam-dong, Jeongneung 3-dong, Hyehwa-Myeongnyun-dong, Hoehyeon-dong, Pil-dong, Gwangnaru Station and Hwayangno 1 district. In terms of natural landscape district designations, they fall under six districts: Pyeongchang, Seongbuk, Namsan, Gwangjang and Neungdong.

Under the revised rules, the maximum lot coverage ratio within natural landscape districts rises from 30 percent to 40 percent. Building height limits are also relaxed, from a maximum of three stories or 12 meters to four stories or 16 meters.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government also updated related standards so that any future revisions to the urban planning ordinance can be reflected directly in district unit plans without delay. Lot coverage ratios, height limits and any eased provisions within natural landscape districts will now follow applicable laws and the Seoul Urban Planning Ordinance.

As a result, eased provisions that can be set separately through committee review will also be applicable without requiring a formal revision to the district unit plan.

Under the new framework, building height limits in residential environment improvement project zones may be relaxed to up to 20 meters following committee review. Where floor area ratios are eased for redevelopment or reconstruction projects, heights of up to 24 meters will be permitted.

"Through this blanket revision of district unit plans, the easing of building regulations in natural landscape districts is expected to encourage more efficient land use and invigorate private construction activity," said Ahn Dae-hee, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Urban Space Bureau.