A research study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science

Research Studies Project Report (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1988

Urban land consolidation/readjustment (ULR) projects play a useful and effective role in new urban land development in Taiwan. However, the shortcomings of ULR for the redevelopment of built-up areas caused the government in 1983 to discontinue its use in urban redevelopment projects. The Taipei City government prefers to use the zone expropriation (ZE)technique for urban redevelopment, but a large government budget is needed for this approach. The aims of this study are to assess ULR as a technique for implementing urban redevelopment, to identify the reasons for discontinuing the ULR technique in Kaohsiung and to compare the ULR and ZE techniques. Also to compare it to the urban redevelopment technique used in Japan. Then to recommend possible measures to improve the UL R technique in Taiwan. An urban redevelopment project in Kaohsiung using the ULR technique was taken for a case study. The study found that the ULR technique could only provide a two dimensional approach to urban redevelopment projects, and the construction of new buildings on the reshaped plots had to be undertaken by the private sector through a co- operative construction arrangement between developers and the plot owners. The ZE technique, while suitable for urban redevelopment projects was too costly. In Japan, the rights conversion method has been practiced successfully with urban redevelopment projects. This method is similar to a combination of the ULR technique and the co-operative construction system in Taiwan. The study recommends that the ULR technique and co - operative construction system be combined and then suggests that the advantages of the rights conversion method be used to improve the ULR technique for urban redevelopment projects.