An old apartment building in Đống Đa District, Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Phan Tuấn Anh

HÀ NỘI — Renovating and rebuilding old apartment buildings in Hà Nội is not only an urgent social issue but also will help improve the city’s urban look and boost its economic development.

That was the message from the city People’s Committee chairman Chu Ngọc Anh, who has asked the Government for a special mechanism to address problems relating to old apartment buildings.

There are about 1,579 old apartment buildings in the city in need of improvement. Most were built between 1960s and 1992 in inner districts of Ba Đình, Hoàn Kiếm, Đống Đa and Hai Bà Trưng.

Of the buildings, 1,273 belong to 76 apartment building zones – 34 zones with areas of more than two hectares each and 42 zones with areas of less than two hectares each. The remaining 306 old buildings are located separately across the four inner districts.

Almost all are in poor condition, degrading for many years. They are now owned or used by organisations or individuals. Many have been illegally enlarged by home owners, threatening the safety of those who live there.

Since early 2000s, Hà Nội began making plans to renovate the old buildings.

However, since 2014, only 18 old buildings in the city were renovated and rebuilt, said mayor Chu Ngọc Anh, adding that difficulties in mechanism hindered the restoration.

House users refusing to move or being not happy with compensations are among major reasons for the delay of restoration projects. Meanwhile, investors are not interested in such projects due to current restrictions imposed on buildings in Hà Nội’s inner districts, for example, height limits.

To speed up the building renovation projects, Hà Nội has asked the Government to allow it to conduct technical examinations of all old apartment buildings in the city and then develop a renovation plan.

Options must match investment modes and the current situation of old buildings to ensure the feasibility of renovation projects, Ngọc Anh said.

In apartment building zones, new buildings will be built on available land, replacing public works. Public works would be constructed after the old apartment buildings are removed. New apartment buildings will be designed with the number of storeys limited and more underground parking areas.

In small-sized zones, once the old buildings are renovated or rebuilt, home owners will be relocated to other buildings in the same wards or districts.

People living in separated old buildings will be relocated into a zone. Land plots at prime locations will be given to commercial works or commercial housing to further attract investors.

Chairman Chu Ngọc Anh said the city expected the Government and National Assembly to issue a resolution with special power given to it to tackle old apartment buildings.

“Hà Nội commits to following planning, ensuring population and housing targets, reducing construction density and properly arrange land for commercial and service works when increasing the height of buildings,” he said. — VNS