A joint venture of UK firms Mace Consult and Arup has been appointed programme management partner for a 30,000-hectare urban development called “Northern Metropolis” in Hong Kong.
The two will establish a programme management office (PMO) for the megaproject that will meld the urban fabric of Hong Kong with Shenzhen in the north.
Developed by the special administrative region’s Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), which calls the scheme “unprecedented” in scale, Northern Metropolis will be a whole new district, with technology, culture and leisure centres and housing, providing around 650,000 jobs for an eventual population of 2.5 million people.
It’s billed as a new engine of growth for the region.
Mace Consult will provide multi-disciplinary programme management services for two main components: Kwu Tung North-Fanling North New Development Area and the San Tin Technopole Project.
“The Northern Metropolis will see the Civil Engineering and Development Department’s first ever take on the PMO model, allowing opportunities for collaboration in the earliest stages of the programme,” said Mace Consult chief executive Davendra Dabasia.
He added: “With its remarkable growth in Asia Pacific, Mace Consult is well placed to help CEDD bring its bold ambitions to life.”
CEDD director Mr. Fong Hok-shing said: “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.”
He added: “The PMO is designed to streamline workflows, enabling CEDD to operate more efficiently and effectively.”
On 23 July 2025 Mace Group announced a majority investment in Mace Consult from Goldman Sachs Alternatives. Mace Consult will become an independent organisation when the transaction completes following regulatory approvals later this year.
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