Land Department to Rule on Legality of ‘Waterfront’ Land Title Amid Ongoing Pattaya Dispute

[Georgealbert]

 

File picture for reference only.

 

The long-running controversy surrounding the abandoned 53-storey Waterfront condominium project near Pattaya’s Bali Hai Pier remains unresolved, as authorities await a crucial decision from the Department of Lands regarding the legality of the land title deed.

 

Pattaya Mayor Poramet Ngampichet has provided an update on 10 March, on the case, which has been mired in legal and bureaucratic uncertainty for over a decade. According to the latest developments, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has issued an official statement suggesting that the land title on which the Waterfront building stands may have been issued unlawfully. In response, Pattaya City has referred the matter to the Department of Lands for further investigation and a final ruling.

 

“If the Department of Lands determines that the title deed was indeed issued illegally, the land will be deemed public property,” Mayor Poramet explained. “In that case, Pattaya City and Bang Lamung District will take responsibility for the area, and the project’s owners will be required to demolish the building.”

 

Should the project developers fail to act, the city will undertake the demolition itself and charge the costs to the owners. The mayor also noted that if the land title is found to be illegitimate, the developers may have legal recourse against those who originally sold them the land.

 

However, if the Department of Lands concludes that the title deed was issued correctly, the project’s developer, Bali Hai Co. Ltd., will have the right to proceed with construction. In such a scenario, the company would need to submit revised plans to Pattaya City in compliance with building control regulations.

 

One key issue would be the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements, which have been a point of contention in the past. Additionally, the status of the adjacent road, whether private or public, remains a legal matter that must be addressed before any further development can take place. The mayor confirmed that if the project does go ahead, the height of the building would need to be reduced to meet legal requirements.

 

The case has gained further attention in parliament, with a question raised by a senator prompting a response from the Minister of the Interior. Deputy Minister of the Interior has been tasked with addressing the matter, while Pattaya City has prepared a full report on the issue. The minister has instructed the Department of Lands to expedite its ruling so that the next steps can be determined without further delay.

 

The outcome of this decision will finally determine the fate of the unfinished skyscraper, which has stood as an eyesore on Pattaya’s coastline for years.

 

-- 2025-03-12

 

[ukrules]

14 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

If the Department of Lands determines that the title deed was indeed issued illegally

 

Then that very department should be investigated because who could possibly issue an official yet unlawful land title except for the department of land.

The government department and those who supervise its operation should be made to pay for this - ultimately the tax payer and government of the day is responsible for actions under their regime - who was running the country at the time this happened?

 

Be it one rogue official, etc - someone on the corrupt side of things needs to pay up for being incompetent in supervising government officials unless it proves to be a simple faked document - which I'm pretty sure it's not as these are issued only at government offices and anyone making such a large purchase would surely verify everything down to the last centimeter during their due dilligence.

There seems to be a very long history of corruption of employees being denied as the responsibility of the institution which they work for, be it some government department or a bank, etc.

Why is it taking 10 years to sort this out? I have a very good idea why - nobody wants to take responsibility for the obvious.

[ChrisY1]

I guess the level and costs of the corruption involved in this debacle, is far more important than finding a  solution!

10 years on.....eventually it will remain as it stand and...the same as the unfinished structure, Sathorn Unique, in BKK is the same...and I think that's 20 years...no-one gives a fig!

[MalcolmB]

No mention of Ittipol Khunplume?

 

 

[mikebell]

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

the next steps can be determined without further delay.

How many years now?  They seem to have ignored the fact that ALL the establishments on Walking Street's sea side are also illegal and that's been going on for the 20 years I have been in Thailand.

[jacko45k]

38 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

No mention of Ittipol Khunplume?

 

 

Yes, it was a past administration, long gone, but still with connections. 

[henryford1958]

Always makes me laugh when they quote the National Anti Corruption Commission on a clear case of Government corruption. How does it take 12 years to decide who owns the land?

[Captain Flack]

A post breaking forum rules has been removed.

 

Rule 17. ASEAN NOW news team collects news articles from various recognised and reputable news sources. The articles  may be consolidated from different sources and rewritten with AI assistance These news items are shared in our forums for members to stay informed and engaged. Our dedicated news team puts in the effort to deliver quality content, and we ask for your respect in return. Any disrespectful comments about our news articles or the content itself, such as calling it "clickbait" or “slow news day”, and criticising grammatical errors, will not be tolerated and appropriate action will be taken. Please note that republished articles may contain errors or opinions that do not reflect the views of ASEAN NOW.

If you'd like to help us, and you see an error with an article, then please use the report function so that we can attend to it promptly.

[Emdog]

"Should the project developers fail to act, the city will undertake the demolition itself and charge the costs to the owners."

Fat chance of collecting even a satang in that case

[scubascuba3]

That's probably the last we hear of it until next year

[smedly]

how much was the bribe this time around

 

this was resolved years ago and still no one is in jail