Guangzhou approves landmark regulation for urban village renovation

The regulation on the Renovation of Urban Villages in Guangzhou was approved by the standing committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on Friday, becoming the first local regulation in the country specifically targeting the renovation of urban villages.

The regulation will be of great significance in Guangzhou's urban development and play a guiding role for the development and reconstruction of the urban villages in the southern metropolis, capital of Guangdong province, it said.

The regulation specifies that before the demolition and construction of urban village renovation projects, the district government shall organize a consultation on the renovation willingness of local villagers.

With the consent of more than two-thirds of the members of the rural collective economic organization in the village where the renovation project is located and more than two-thirds of the villagers aged 18 and above, it can be included in the city's annual plan for urban village renovation and the renovation project can be initiated.

The regulation also clearly stipulates land acquisition and compensation methods, resettlement of villagers, affordable housing construction and social security for villagers.

Guangzhou is known as a commercial hub for over a millennium. With a population exceeding 18 million and a permanent population density of about 33,000 people per square kilometer, it faces significant challenges in its numerous villages. Issues related to the environment, transportation, public services, fire safety, and more have been widely reported, underscoring the urgent need for this legislation.

According to "Development Plan of Urban Villages in Guangzhou (2021-35)," the city government plans to promote the planning and reconstruction of a total of 272 urban villages, covering a total area of about 155 square kilometers, with a registered residence population of about 1.18 million, plus another permanent population of about 5.15 million, accounting for about 28 percent of the city's permanent population.