About 10 individual residents and 20 families will be compensated with more than 100 million yuan ($16 million) as a result of relocation work in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

The relocations in the Gangxia area began in 2007, but the compensation plan was finally agreed on this year after several rounds of negotiations. All families who were forced to move were given the option of either a new a apartment or cash.

If they opt for cash, apartment owners will be paid 12,800 yuan ($1,876) per square meter while commercial building owners will collect 23,800 yuan per square meter.

The biggest house in the village covers more than 6,000 sq m, which means the family might end up with property worth more than 100 million yuan ($16 million) after the relocation process is complete. Several other families have similarly large houses.

Local relocation official Guo Pengsheng from the city's Futian district said profiteering in illegal renovations should be strictly prohibited.