GEORGE TOWN, February 16 – More than 200 families who have lived for over three generations at a reclamation site in Weld Quay have been relocated to make way for the highly anticipated Weld Quay Waterfront Development.
The families were moved to Cecil Residency, a newly built 24-storey apartment complex developed by a subsidiary of the Penang Development Corporation (PDC) on Gat Lebuh Cecil, offering 348 affordable housing units for residents displaced by urban renewal.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the 5.26-hectare site, largely comprising state land, is being prepared for a mixed-use development expected to take five years to complete. He added that the relocation was managed by PDC.
With the appointed developer required to reimburse the relocation costs, making it easier for the successful bidder to proceed with the project. The redevelopment site is located within the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site, meaning strict guidelines.
Including an 18-metre building height limit — will apply to preserve the city’s historic skyline. The state government has called for a Request for Proposal (RFP), inviting local and international developers to submit innovative and financially sound plans before the closing deadline on March 30.
Chow said the waterfront project will be strategically connected to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, the city centre, Penang Bridge and a future LRT station at Macallum, strengthening regional mobility.
He expressed hope that the development would emerge as a landmark waterfront destination that balances heritage preservation with sustainable economic growth, while enhancing the quality of life for Penangites.
