Recently, the Anhui Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the 'Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Comprehensive Utilization of Urban Space' (hereinafter referred to as the 'Opinions'). The 'Opinions' propose actively exploring new approaches for comprehensive urban space utilization, coordinating the planning of above-ground and underground spaces, and optimizing functional allocation to improve the city's comprehensive carrying capacity and the quality of urbanization development. The 'Opinions' require that by the end of 2015, all localities must complete the compilation of comprehensive urban underground space utilization plans.
By the end of 2015, all localities to complete urban underground space planning
In recent years, with the rapid advancement of industrialization and urbanization in Anhui Province, issues such as urban land shortage, traffic congestion, and environmental pollution have become prominent, and urban development is facing increasingly severe constraints on spatial resources.
The 'Opinions' propose that the provincial urban and rural planning authorities, in conjunction with relevant provincial departments, should formulate planning standards for comprehensive urban space utilization. By the end of 2015, all localities must complete the compilation of comprehensive urban underground space utilization plans, clarifying the scope, layout, purposes, development intensity, start and end depths, and level requirements of underground space utilization, rationally arranging underground transportation, underground pipeline networks, civil air defense facilities, emergency shelters, as well as parking, commercial, storage, and other underground engineering constructions, and formulating near-term and medium-to-long-term construction plans and organizing their implementation.
Seeking space underground: substations and heat exchange stations to be moved underground
With the continuous expansion and development of cities, seeking space underground is an important means to alleviate the shortage of urban land resources. The 'Opinions' propose rationally arranging functions in key areas at 2-4 above-ground floors near the surface and within the top 5 meters below ground, extending and expanding traditional public service facilities concentrated on the ground to both above-ground and underground levels, in order to achieve the reconstruction and value-added of urban spatial resources.
In response to the chaotic construction and management of urban underground pipelines, the 'Opinions' propose adopting centralized laying of municipal pipelines, coordinating the construction and renovation of underground pipeline networks for electricity, communications, water supply and drainage, heating, and gas, to reduce the interference of underground pipeline facility construction and renovation with urban road traffic and the production and life of the people. At the same time, scientifically promote the underground placement of urban substations, heat exchange stations, and other facilities. In addition, the 'Opinions' also require the rational layout of urban three-dimensional public parking lots, strengthening the construction of three-dimensional transportation facilities, and adhering to public transportation priority.
Urban transportation corridors to be developed in a composite manner to reduce ineffective pendulum traffic
To strengthen the composite development of urban space, the 'Opinions' propose that new urban areas should follow the concept of 'industry-city integration and job-housing balance' to avoid excessive zoning and single functions in urban construction. Old urban areas should combine industrial structure adjustment, accelerate the relocation and transformation of old industrial areas, orderly promote the transformation of shantytowns and urban villages, strengthen the reuse of existing space, and comprehensively improve the living environment. Encourage the adoption of transit-oriented development (TOD) models, carry out composite development in urban transportation corridor areas, promote the rational layout of commercial, office, residential, and ecological spaces with transportation stations, and reduce ineffective pendulum traffic. Encourage government agencies, enterprises, and institutions to open their sports, cultural, parking, toilet, and other facilities to the public.
For spaces in cities that are currently not fully utilized, such as corner spaces between roads and bridges, intermediary spaces between buildings, abandoned land, and temporary land, the 'Opinions' clearly state that under the premise of meeting safety requirements, rational planning and utilization should be carried out to enrich public life and improve spatial quality and urban landscape.