Balconies, Private Enclosed Spaces, Private Roof Terraces and Indoor Recreation Spaces

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The GFA of balconies in flats and condominium developments may be computed over and above the Master Plan (MP) allowable GPR, subject to a cap of 7% inclusive of planter boxes, if any. The additional GPR may only be used for balcony GFA and shall not form the future development potential of the site upon redevelopment. The additional balcony GFA may be subject to SLA levying Land Betterment Charge, where applicable. When submitting development proposals with balconies, the QP is required to demarcate the balcony area clearly on the Calculation Plan and declare the total balcony area that exceeds the MP allowable GPR.

Existing developments whose GPR have exceeded the Master Plan intensity may qualify for the additional balcony GFA, subject to a cap of 7% of the existing and approved GPR inclusive of planter boxes, if any. This does not apply to existing developments whose building form, height or use are not in accordance with the planning intention of the Master Plan, Building Height Plan or Special and Detailed Control Plan. For instance, a flats development within a designated landed housing area shall not qualify for the bonus balcony GFA.

Balcony designs shall adhere to the following guidelines and submission requirements:

Location	Balconies shall be located away from M&E areas to safeguard the quality and usability of these spaces.
Openness	Balconies shall have a continuous perimeter opening of at least 40%. Balcony Perimeter Opening The portions of a balcony that face a parapet wall (eg a wall between the balconies of two adjoining units) not exceeding 1.3m in height are considered “open”. The QP shall show the computation of perimeter opening for the proposed balconies on the floor plans.
Size	Total balcony size for each dwelling unit is capped at 15% of the internal nett unit size. This excludes voids, balconies, air-conditioner ledges and other external areas. The intention is to ensure that the balconies are not disproportionately large relative to the main unit.
Width	Balconies shall have a minimum width of 1.5m as measured from the external building wall. Exceptions to the width requirement may be considered arising from the design merit of the proposal, such as a curved or odd-shaped balcony but the balcony shall be reasonably sized.
Access	Balconies with exclusive access from the kitchen/yard/utility space are treated as service balconies and do not qualify for bonus GFA. Balconies which serve as the only access into a dwelling unit do not qualify for bonus GFA.
Screen	Balconies shall not be enclosed with walls or glass panels as balconies are meant to be semi-outdoor spaces. Blinds are akin to furnishing and can be allowed at balconies without planning permission from URA. Balcony screens may be allowed provided: The balcony screens can be drawn open or retracted fully; and The balcony screens allow for natural ventilation/air flow within the balcony at all times, even when the screens are fully drawn. See diagrams below for some possible designs of balcony screens. View high-res illustration here View high-res illustration here Balcony screens shall be designed upfront and approved as part of the Development Application process for all new residential developments with proposed balconies (including the residential component of mixed-use developments). Developers may propose a single screen design or a few designs for the end-users to choose from. Developers shall provide a Letter of Undertaking to be submitted at the Development Application Stage, downloadable via the following link (PDF, 351 KB). The plans shall show the balcony screens in elevation view; one view fully retracted and another view fully closed with a fully retracted view in a plan view. The porosity of the balcony screen shall be annotated, and if the screening is louvred, the individual slats shall be fixed (ie not adjustable). Section cuts of the louvres shall be provided to show that the screening is naturally ventilated at all times, even when closed. If sales gallery and/or show unit(s) is/are erected for the development, developers shall be required to install the approved balcony screen in its actual scale in the show unit of the development. If the balcony screens are not erected within the show unit as it may block the entrance, the developer shall erect a mock-up of the full approved balcony screen elsewhere within the show gallery premises. Mock-ups showing only parts of the approved balcony screen or scaled down versions of the balcony screens installed at the balcony are not allowed. For developments with multiple approved balcony screen designs, mock-ups of all the balcony screen designs shall be installed at the show gallery of the development. A written notice and a detailed drawing of the approved balcony screen showing the overall specifications shall be displayed next to the mock-up balcony screen. The written notice shall include the following: Explicitly state that ‘The balcony shall not be enclosed except with the approved balcony screen’. For balconies where the screen is not installed within the balcony of the show unit itself, the notice shall refer to the mock up balcony screen installed in the other show unit or sales gallery. State that the purchasers shall have the option to have the balcony screen pre-installed in the units and make clear if the purchasers have to bear separate costs for its installation. Under rule 10(4) of Housing Developer Rules, developers shall explicitly state in the unit floor plan in Form 3 that “Balconies shall not to be enclosed except with a balcony screen which has been approved and complies with the Competent Authority’s guidelines”. Developers shall provide purchasers the option to have the approved screening pre-installed at their balconies. This option shall be offered via a side letter at the point of issuance of the Option to Purchase. This is not applicable for developers who choose to pre-install approved screens for all balconies in the development. For existing developments without balcony screens, screens may be installed provided they fulfil the performance criteria above. Subsidiary proprietors who wish to propose balcony screens should adhere to any design guidelines set out by their MCST. Safety grilles are not considered balcony screens, and do not require URA's approval.

Private Enclosed Spaces (PES)

A Private Enclosed Space refers to a semi-outdoor area adjacent to a strata unit. It forms part of the private strata area of units which are sold to homeowners.

All PES in non-landed residential developments shall be counted as GFA under the 7% maximum bonus GFA allowed beyond the Master Plan (MP) stipulated GPR. PES approved before 12 January 2013 may not be counted towards the development’s GFA.

To qualify for the bonus GFA scheme, PES shall comply with the guidelines to retain a semi-outdoor character. The structures shall comply with the relevant requirements from technical agencies.

The guidelines for PES are in the table below.

Guidelines on PES

Covers	Full covers (subject to compliance with SCDF’s requirements) over the entire PES may be allowed provided they comply with development control parameters such as building setback and site coverage. PES covers shall be approved upfront as part of the Development Application process. Developers may propose a single cover design, or a few designs for the homeowners to choose from. Developers shall install a 2m wide (minimum) cover from the external wall. Homeowners shall be given the flexibility and choice over the remaining cover for the rest of the PES beyond 2m, as long as it is one of the approved designs and provided they obtain MCST clearance prior to installation. MCSTs may use these pre-approved designs to guide homeowners who wish to extend their cover beyond 2m.
Setback	The PES cover shall be located outside the setback line, as the covers would add to the bulk and massing of the building.
PES Fencing	Any PES fencing that defines the extent of the PES shall not exceed 1m in height. This is to ensure the open and semi-outdoor nature of the PES. A 1.8m screening wall may be proposed between PES adjoining each other for privacy purposes. Full height separating walls between adjoining PES may be allowed if they are to meet FSSD’s requirements.

Private Roof Terraces (PRT)

A Private Roof Terrace refers to a semi-outdoor area located at the roof level of a strata unit. It forms part of the private strata area of units which are sold to homeowners. To avoid complications at the strata-subdivision stage, these should be clearly annotated as ‘Private Roof Terraces’.

All PRT of developments shall be counted as GFA under the 7% maximum bonus GFA allowed beyond the Master Plan (MP) stipulated GPR. PRT approved before 12 January 2013 may not be counted towards the development’s GFA.

To qualify for the bonus GFA scheme, PRT shall comply with the guidelines to retain a semi-outdoor character. The structures shall comply with the relevant requirements from technical agencies.

The guidelines for PRT are in the table below.

Guidelines for Roof Terraces

Location	Private roof terraces may be allowed on the flat roof of a building. Private roof terraces shall not be allowed on top of the attic level.
Covers	Coverings (subject to compliance with SCDF’s requirements) may be allowed on PRT provided the development complies with the applicable storey height controls. Such covers shall be approved upfront as part of the development application process. Developers may propose a single cover design, or a few designs for the homeowners to choose from. Installation of the covers is optional. Homeowners may choose from one of the approved designs, should they wish to cover the PRT subsequently. Homeowners shall obtain MCST clearance prior to installation. MCSTs may use the pre-approved designs to guide homeowners who wish to install covers.
Height Control	If the storey height control has been maxed out Any covers on roof terrace floor shall be setback according to the 45-degree envelope taken from the springing line¹. The structures shall not exceed 5m at any point, subject to the technical height controls, where applicable.	If the storey height control has not been maxed out The roof terrace shall be taken to be an additional storey. Covers may be allowed over the entire roof terrace floor. The overall height of the development shall comply with the technical height controls, where applicable.
Structures within Private Roof Terraces	To retain the open and semi-outdoor nature of the RT, any structures shall remain open-sided as viewed from the external façade.

Communal roof terraces are open to sky areas managed by the MCST which serve to provide landscaping and communal facilities for residents in the development. They shall not be counted as GFA. Covered or enclosed features within these areas shall be counted as GFA.

¹ Springing Line: The line joining the points on which the roof rests.

Indoor Recreation Spaces

Private non-landed residential developments and the residential component of mixed-use developments may apply for the communal indoor recreation spaces to be counted as bonus GFA, provided such spaces are more than 0.6% of the total GFA of the development or 10sqm (whichever is higher). The bonus GFA shall be capped at 1% of total GFA, or the GFA of the residential component for mixed-use developments.

Bonus GFA for Indoor Recreational Space

If the proposed communal indoor recreation spaces are less than 0.6% of the total GFA of the development or 10sqm (whichever is higher), these spaces shall be counted under the main building GFA instead of bonus GFA.

Examples of communal indoor recreation spaces that may qualify for this scheme include gyms, function rooms, libraries, game rooms and reading rooms. Developers may propose other forms of communal indoor recreation spaces for URA’s evaluation. These spaces shall be retained as common property and kept accessible to residents of the development. They shall only be used for non-commercial purposes.

The indoor recreation space bonus GFA scheme shall apply to all development applications for new erection, amendments to approved developments or additions and alterations (A&A) of existing private non-landed residential developments or mixed-use developments with a residential component.

All additional GFA granted under the indoor recreation space bonus GFA scheme shall not form the future development potential of the site.

Flats and Condominiums

Balconies, Private Enclosed Spaces, Private Roof Terraces and Indoor Recreation Spaces