Existing Requirements

1. Currently, tenants renting State properties¹ from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) for interim uses on short term tenancies are required to obtain Temporary Permission from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for the change of use of the premises and/or to carry out minor Additions & Alterations (A&A) works. As a pre-requisite, tenants must seek SLA’s prior consent as the Landlord before submitting the planning application to URA.

Planning Authorisation for State properties rented out by SLA

2. As part of SLA and URA’s efforts to simplify the planning application process and reduce business costs, tenants will only need to seek SLA’s consent for the change of use and minor A&A works² for State properties listed in Appendix A with immediate effect. They will no longer need to submit planning applications to URA. The uses and minor A&A works listed are deemed authorised provided they comply with the conditions set out in Appendix A.
3. The authorisation does not apply to gazetted conserved buildings and monuments, as well as selected sites that are subject to special planning controls which will be made known in SLA’s tender and tenancy conditions.   For such cases, URA still requires a planning application for all proposed uses and A&A works to be submitted for approval.

Clearance from other Government agencies

4. The tenants of State properties are still required to seek clearance from relevant government agencies (e.g. Fire Safety and Shelter Department, Building & Construction Authority, National Environment Agency, Land Transport Authority, Agri-food and Veterinary Authority Singapore) for their proposals. No change of use and A/A works shall commence without SLA’s prior approval and clearances from the relevant technical agencies.
5. For future requests or queries on change of use proposals and A&A works for State properties, tenants can liaise directly with SLA.
6. We would appreciate it if you could convey the contents of this circular to the relevant members of your organisation. If you or your members have any queries concerning this circular, please contact the following:
   
   
   1. URA’s Development Control Group
      ura_dcd@ura.gov.sg
      Tel: 6223 4811
   2. SLA
      sla_ enquiry @sla.gov.sg
      Tel: 1800 323 9829
For your information, our past circulars to the professional institutes are available at http://www.ura.gov.sg and http://www.sla.gov.sg.

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¹ State properties are any land/building or any part of a building tenanted by the SLA for interim uses and for a tenure of less than 10 years.

² Additions & Alterations (A&A) refers to the addition or enlargement, alteration or improvement of the State buildings, and includes the erection of any temporary structures in connection to the authorised use.