Smaller unit sizes are becoming quite the trend in retail malls. While it caters to tenants with a need for smaller spaces, this trend may lead to car parking and traffic congestion along the roads and neighbouring areas.

To minimise externalities and safeguard shoppers’ experience, the URA has released in March 2013 a set of retail guidelines on the average retail unit size as well as minimum corridor widths in retail developments and the retail component of mixed-use developments. The average retail unit size would ensure a more varied mix of unit sizes to meet more product offerings by retailers.

Based on the set of guidelines, the average retail unit size should be at least 50sqm. All single-loaded corridors should have a minimum width of between 2.0m to 2.4m, while double-loaded corridors should have a minimum width of between 2.4m to 3.0m. Single-loaded corridors are defined as corridors that only have a row of retail units on one side, while double-loaded corridors have retail units on both sides.

Please refer to this circular for more details.

Undesirable design with small shop units and narrow corridor width

A better design with bigger unit sizes and wider corridor width

Note: All DC.Connect articles are only for general information. We strongly advise readers to read the relevant circulars we issue to professional institutes for full and accurate information on development control matters as these will continue to take precedence.