GST refunds for processing fees paid on Development Applications and Lodgments. Click for more details.
 

From 1 July 2024, all government SMSes will be sent from a single Sender ID gov.sg. To find out more, visit sms.gov.sg.

 

Be wary of phishing or scam attempts. URA will NOT ask for sensitive personal information relating to your accounts, such as your Singpass ID/password or your banking ID/password. As a safeguard, all official SMSes sent by URA will not carry clickable links. Use our feedback form to report any suspicious SMSes supposedly from URA. Stay vigilant and safe! Learn how to spot these scams.
  1. Home
  2. Guidelines
  3. Development Control
  4. Non-Residential Handbooks
  5. Sports and Recreation
  6. Developments Involving Waterbodies

Sports and Recreation

Developments Involving Waterbodies

To maintain the integrity and aesthetics of the waterfront areas so that the public can have free and unrestricted access to enjoy these spaces, developments at major waterbodies1 shall observe the design and development application submission guidelines below.

1 Major waterbodies: rivers, canals of at least 17.5m width, reservoirs, and seas.

Design guidelines apply to all developments adjacent to waterbodies or rivers and canals with drainage reserve equal to or more than 17.5m

Design guidelines apply to all developments adjacent to waterbodies or rivers and canals with drainage reserve equal to or more than 17.5m

Developments at Major Waterbodies

  1. Retaining Walls

    2. Retaining walls along the waterbodies may be allowed subject to the following criteria:

    1. Retaining walls are less than 1.5m in height;
    2. Retaining walls are set back at least 300mm from the boundary;
    3. Retaining walls are covered with creepers.
  1. Boundary Walls/Fences

    2. For non-industrial developments, proposed boundary fences shall be porous (eg chained-link, metal-grille, or timber fence).

    For industrial developments, the following may be allowed:

    1. Solid boundary walls not exceeding 1.8m in height. The walls shall be aesthetically treated.
    2. Chain-linked fences not exceeding 1.8m in height with close planting of shrubs/vegetation as screenings. A planting strip of 0.5m width (minimum) shall be provided within the development.
  1. Slope
    2. There shall be no abrupt change in slope gradient at the boundary between the development and the waterbody. The slope gradient shall not exceed 1:2.
  1. Conservation of Vegetation
    2. Mature vegetation along the waterbodies are to be saved and conserved, wherever possible.

In all waterbodies-related development application submissions to URA, the following shall be provided, where applicable:

  • Site/Location Plan showing the width and alignment of Drainage Reserve2/Waterbody/Coastal Profile;
  • Layout plans and cross-sections showing the area between the site and the Drainage Reserve/Waterbody/Coastal Area including existing and proposed ground levels;
  • Design details of integration with waterbody including slope, retaining wall, and boundary wall/fencing (Height, Type, Screening);
  • Contour lines extending to 1m beyond the side of development fronting the Drainage Reserve/Waterbody/Sea;
  • Checklist for Waterbodies-related proposals.

2 Drainage Reserve (DR): An area safeguarded for purposes of building or widening a public drain

The design guidelines listed above shall apply to all developments adjacent to or with waterbodies except developments adjacent to or with Drainage Reserves less than 17.5m.

All proposals involving waterbodies shall comply with the development application submission guidelines listed above.

For land use planning and development control purposes, the foreshore3 and the area within 15m on both the landward and seaward side of the foreshore line4 shall be kept free of structures. Some structures such as ramps may be permitted if they are constructed in connection with an approved development (eg marine industries, refineries, and pleasure-boat storage complex). These structures are subject to planning evaluation depending on merits.

3 The area between the high water mark of the Spring Tide or the top of the seawall and the low water mark of the Spring Tide.

The foreshore line as defined by the high water mark of the Spring Tide

The foreshore line as defined by the top of the existing sea wall

4 The high water mark of the Spring Tide; the top of the existing seawall or revertment or river wall (where appropriate) for controlling landward development.

The foreshore line as defined by the revertment or river wall for controlling landward development

Last updated on 5 July 2019

Top