Approval of Songdo International City Development Plan Amendment... Expansion of 'Bio' Industrial Land in District 11

Panoramic view of Songdo International City District 11 [Photo provided by Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The development plan amendment for the Songdo International City development project in the Incheon Free Economic Zone has passed the review by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Free Economic Zone Committee.

According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority on the 24th, the approved development plan amendment includes the expansion of industrial facility land to revitalize the Songdo 11 District Bio Cluster, the creation of alternative bird habitats as part of the environmental impact assessment compliance for the reclamation project on public waters, and road changes following the approval conditions of the traffic impact assessment review.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to expand industrial facility land by 74,835㎡ to foster a leading base for the bio cluster as outlined in the "2nd Free Economic Zone Basic Plan (2018?2027)" and actively attract global anchor companies leading the advanced bio sector.

The alternative bird habitat creation project is a mandatory compliance project approved as a countermeasure for the destruction of waterbird habitats, including Saunders’s gull and black-headed gull, in the environmental impact assessment of the Songdo reclamation project.

A shallow open wetland and waterbird resting areas will be created on a 177,497㎡ site on the north side of the Songdo 11-2 District research complex site.

To create the alternative bird habitat, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to secure research land (76,553㎡) on the north side of the reduced project area by changing the land use plan of single-family residential land within District 11 and increasing the floor area ratio of research facility land if there is a shortage of research land in the future.

Once the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy approves and announces the development plan amendment, the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority will proceed with administrative procedures such as changes to the implementation plan by December and promote the construction of infrastructure within District 11.

Lee Won-jae, head of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, stated, "Through the development plan amendment, we will enhance the ecological value of Songdo and do our best to attract additional production and research and development facilities in the bio sector by expanding bioindustry facilities linked with Districts 5 and 7."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.