Building Activity Zones of George Town World Heritage Site

The Building Activity Zones is a recommendation of consultants on permissible activities to be carried out in each section of George Town World Heritage Site. According to Chief Minister Mr Lim Guan Eng, this is just a proposal drawn up by a heritage consultant, and that it only restricts new businesses/activities, and not those which are already existing, even if it is regarded as "non-permissible" under the draft Special Area Plan zoning.

The map below shows a draft of zones drawn up for the Building and Land Use Activity Zoning of George Town World Heritage Site.

Building Activity Zones of George Town
Author: © George Town World Heritage Inc.

By and large, the plan observes the existing land use categorises the site into ten different zones. Category I Buildings (buildings of exceptional interest, sometimes considered to be internationally important) are marked out in black.

Institution Zone

This zone includes government offices, police stations, cemetery, school, and other institutions. Much of the area along Light Street is in this zone.

Financial Zone

This zone covers the Central Business District of George Town, including the banking areas of Beach Street, Union Street, Bishop Street and Church Street. It is located within the original grid of George Town that was drawn up by Francis Light himself in the late 18th century.

Waterfront Zone

This zone covers the area which were reclaimed at the turn of the 20th century, creating new land for warehousing and port activities. It is bounded by Beach Street and Chulia Street Ghaut.

Tourism & Leisure Zone

This zone includes areas in Farquhar Street and Upper Penang Road.

Enterprise Zone

This zone covers areas of George Town that developed in the later part of the 19th century. It includes Carnarvon Street, Campbell Street and Kimberley Street area. It also includes areas on both sides of Penang Road which were originally a predominant South Indian settlement.

Trade Zone

This zone encompasses the Chinese merchant precinct, on the northern side of Beach Street west of Chulia Street Ghaut. This is were wholesale traders have their businesses since the early part of the 20th century.

Jetty Zone

This zone encompasses the Clan Jetties, which came into existence at the turn of the 20th century following the rapid expansion of the Penang Port.

Special Zone

A special zone is designated for the area bounded by Pitt Street, Chulia Street and China Street. This area has some of the oldest shophouses within the city. It is part of the original grid laid out by Francis Light in the late 18th century.

Within the Special Zone as well as all around the Core and Buffer Zones of the World Heritage Site are Category I Buildings, marked out in black on the zoning map.