A. Vertical greenery and extensive green roofs as Landscape Replacement Areas
B. Landscape Replacement scheme to support rooftop urban farms
C. Encourage rooftops to be used for sustainability-related features
D. Green Plot Ratio standards for private developments
Implementation
1 Extensive green roofs are generally not designed for accessibility and active recreational use. Such roofs are mainly for ecological and aesthetic benefits and are installed at inaccessible rooftops. They are usually lightweight systems comprising low maintenance plants.
2 Rooftop urban farms come in various forms, ranging from smaller scale community-based farming activity and edible gardens, to larger-scale, highly intensive farming activities conducted on a commercial basis.
3 Developments within the identified Strategic Areas must provide replacement landscaped areas at least equivalent in size to the development site area (for details on the Strategic Areas, see the ‘Landscape Replacement Area Policy in Strategic Areas’ section in the relevant Development Control handbooks). The replacement landscaped areas should comprise minimum 40% softscape, and up to 60% hardscape which can be communal facilities like event plazas, water features and playgrounds.
4 The 10% for rooftop urban farms is allowed in addition to the 10% allowed for vertical greenery and extensive green roofs. Uncovered rooftop communal gardens that may subsequently be converted to small scale community farms will continue to be counted as greenery replacement (softscape).
5 As a temporary use incurring additional area, covered farms will be subject to Temporary Development Levy. URA can consider the additional GFA over and above the maximum permissible GFA under the Master Plan.
6 The guidelines do not apply to commercial and hotel developments that share common boundaries with residential developments. For such developments that do not share common boundaries with residential developments but are in close proximity to them, activity generating uses at the rooftops will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
7 Covered urban farm area will be allowed on Temporary Permission and counted as GFA. Incidental covered spaces under solar panels put to landscaping will not constitute GFA.
8 Please note that the new guidelines will not be applicable to conservation buildings and areas with urban design guidelines for roof forms.
9 GnPR is used by the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for their respective Landscape Excellence Assessment Framework (LEAF) and Green Mark certification schemes.
10 Development applications submitted before the effective date 9 February 2018 resulting in an Advice or Refusal of Written Permission (RWP) will be evaluated based on the revised guidelines upon resubmission after the Advice or RWP.