China's Ministry of Natural Resources said on June 8 Xie Haixia, director of the
Land and Spatial Planning Bureau, told a State Council policy briefing that
planning permit approvals can be simplified or waived for micro urban-renewal
livelihood projects — examples cited include elevator retrofits in older
residential blocks, pocket parks and community childcare facilities. The
ministry also encourages temporary use of existing or idle land and space
without amending long-term plans so long as such use does not affect future plan
implementation.
