How Arup is Shaping Hong Kong's Northern Metropolis Vision

As Hong Kong presses ahead with the Northern Metropolis, its largest land-supply and cross-border integration scheme, Arup’s roles multiply.

It has moved from conducting early technical studies to assuming leadership roles across several of the Northern Metropolis’ flagship components.

Most recently, Hong Kong’s Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) has appointed it to deliver two New Development Areas in a joint venture with AtkinsRéalis.

It will carry out design and construction work for the remaining phase of the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area and phase one of the Lau Fau Shan New Development Area, both located near Shenzhen's Qianhai district. 

“Being entrusted with this significant development is a proud moment that reflects our years of dedication to Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen and Lau Fau Shan New Development Areas,” says Theresa Yeung, Arup’s Managing Principal for East Asia.

Delivering Hung Shui Kiu and Lau Fau Shan

The two areas are expected to generate around 43,000 jobs and roughly 50,000 homes. 

Arup's scope covers everything from geotechnical engineering to landscape design and community engagement.

Nature-based solutions and cultural heritage work are woven into the plan, with the goal of enabling people, nature and development to progress together. 

“This area is complex, bringing together new communities, rural villages, sensitive natural landscapes and cutting-edge infrastructure,” adds Theresa. 

Northern Metropolis’ first Programme Management Office

Arup is already collaborating with Mace in leading the CEDD’s first implementation of the Programme Management Office (PMO) model in the Northern Metropolis.

The two companies are providing management services for two key aspects of the Northern Metropolis: Kwu Tung North / Fanling North New Development Area and the San Tin Technopole projects.  

This will involve covering project governance and interface management while implementing a new information system for performance monitoring across both sites.

KTN/FLN is the first New Development Area in the Northern Metropolis at the implementation stage. It will provide 86,200 homes for around 227,000 residents. 

Meanwhile, the San Tin Technopole projects and the adjacent Loop (also known as the Hetao or river-loop area) along the Shenzhen River will form a major technology hub. 

The Loop is currently the development site for the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, designed to advance research and development, education and the creative industries.

“The scale of the Northern Metropolis is unprecedented. It is a massive and complex programme and the PMO will provide support, and oversight to help us navigate the challenges ahead,” says Michael Fong Hok-shing, Director of the CEDD.

“This ties in directly with CEDD’s strategic goal of fostering team spirit, empowering colleagues, and enabling everyone to reach their full potential. It’s not just about managing scale, it’s about working smarter. The PMO is designed to streamline workflows, enabling CEDD to operate more efficiently and effectively.”

“We’re proud to deepen our involvement in the Northern Metropolis and support CEDD in shaping this transformative area,” says Theresa. 

“With extensive experience managing large-scale, multidisciplinary projects, we bring the rigour, insight and innovation needed to navigate complexity and deliver with confidence. 

“This appointment reflects our continued commitment to delivery excellence and to the long-term success of Hong Kong.”

Three decades of groundwork

Arup's roots in the northern New Territories go back to the 1990s, starting with the Yuen Long section of the former West Rail, now part of the MTR Tuen Ma Line.

It later worked on the Deep Bay Link, a 5.4km (3.4-mile) dual, three-lane expressway and lent its expertise to a rural township study for Lau Fau Shan. 

By 2006, the firm was supporting the planning framework that guided conservation and development across the frontier Closed Area, a regulated border zone along Hong Kong's northern boundary with mainland China. 

This early work has since evolved into a continuous presence in the region, spanning planning studies, engineering design and infrastructure delivery well before the Northern Metropolis was formally announced in 2021.

Inside the Northern Metropolis

Spanning around 30,000 hectares across Yuen Long District and the North District – about a third of Hong Kong's total land area – the Northern Metropolis combines existing new towns with a series of New Development Areas.

It is expected to house 2.5 million residents and create 650,000 jobs. 

It is organised around four zones, ranging from the San Tin Technopole's innovation and technology focus to a blue-green conservation corridor around Deep Bay, and is central to Hong Kong's efforts to integrate more closely with Shenzhen. 

Arup is not alone in supporting Hong Kong’s ambition. AECOM recently opened a new Hong Kong office and Asia headquarters in Cheung Sha Wan, citing the Northern Metropolis as one of the transformational projects shaping the city's future. 

For Arup, though, the latest commission caps decades of continuity in the same corner of the territory. 

“Drawing on the deep local knowledge, our commitment to community engagement and nature, and the digital and AI tools we have pioneered here, we look forward to working hand in hand with CEDD, AtkinsRéalis and the wider community to unlock lasting value for this area and the city,” says Theresa.