111-floor Twin Towers ?unlikely?

• 31 December 2015
• Local News
• 1109 Views

After news of a proposed 111-storey twin tower development went viral in early July, the whole country has been waiting to see if this Chinese-Cambodian joint venture would get the green light.

However, City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche told Construction and Property Magazine that it is unlikely that the government will accept the proposal to build the nation’s tallest skyscraper on the current Dreamland plot since such tall buildings could not be so near the Royal Palace.

“As per normal, we don’t allow any high buildings surrounding the Royal Palace,” he said. “However, if such a tall 500-metre building were allowed to be built there it would face many problems regarding the infrastructure, drainage system, etc.”

Despite its reservations, City Hall hasn’t formally rejected the proposal since the developer hasn’t submitted the official investment plan yet, he said. The municipality advised them to study the environmental impact and other related issues before submitting the official investment plan to the government for consideration.

“Only with a detailed study can we submit it to the government for approval,” he told the Phnom Penh Post, adding that. “It is an advantage for the country to have a skyscraper like this, but we need to balance the benefits with the impacts.”

A joint investment between the Cambodian-owned Thai Bun Rong Company and Chinese developer Kia Nip Group, the development would include commercial office space, a cultural centre, a hotel, shopping floors and many other entertainment outlets and facilities and is expected to cost around $3 billion.

The 500-metre twin tower is the second mega-skyscraper to be proposed for Phnom Penh, after the 555-metre Diamond Tower that the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) touted for Diamond Island. Construction on Diamond Tower is yet to start however, after being announced in 2010.