The Cabinet has approved revisions to the Ayutthaya master city plan, amending regulations on green land use to support economic, industrial, and residential development while protecting agricultural land and the environment.
On 7 July 2026, Ms. Lalida Pertvivatana, Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet approved a draft Ministry of Interior announcement amending the ministerial regulations enforcing the Ayutthaya provincial master plan B.E. 2560 (2017) to update rural and agricultural land use regulations in line with changing economic, social, and environmental conditions.
The Deputy Spokesperson stated that Ayutthaya is a key strategic area within the Central-Western Special Economic Corridor, serving as a production base for high-value processed agricultural products, high-tech industries, and a logistics hub connecting the metropolitan region, northern, northeastern regions, and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the city plan regulations to support appropriate development.
The main points of the draft announcement include revising the green land use regulations—rural and agricultural land—to allow operation or conduct of activities in buildings within specified height and size limits. Exemptions from height restrictions apply to certain building types, such as religious buildings, utilities, public facilities, silos, warehouses, factories under factory law, utility structures, and water towers in some areas.
Ms. Lalida explained that the revision also permits certain areas to accommodate commercial buildings, condominiums, dormitories, or multi-unit residences under specified conditions: buildings must not be large-scale and must be located along public roads with a right-of-way of at least 30 meters. This aims for systematic urban development without affecting surrounding agricultural land, maintaining the balance of rural and agricultural areas as intended by the master plan.
The Deputy Spokesperson added that the Ministry of Interior has followed procedures under the Town Planning Act B.E. 2562 (2019). The planning committee approved the draft and opened it for stakeholder comments for 30 days, during which no objections were received. The Cabinet instructed the Ministry of Interior to consider feedback from relevant agencies, particularly regarding floodplain maps, flood-prone areas, activity controls in relaxed zones, and strict compliance with natural resource and environmental laws.
“The government prioritizes balanced urban development that supports economic growth, industry, agriculture, and housing while preserving agricultural land, natural resources, and environmental quality. This update to the Ayutthaya provincial master plan will enable appropriate, systematic development that benefits the public, business sector, and the national economy in the long term.”