Guidelines for Visitor's Hostel and other Allowable Uses in Hospital Developments Located in Sites Zoned as Health and Medical Care

Circular No : URA/PB/2008/08-DCD

Our Ref : DC/ADMIN/CIRCULAR/PB_08

Fax : 6227 4792

CIRCULAR TO PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

Who Should Know:
Qualified Persons, developers and hospital operators

Effective Date:
With effect from 7 April 2008

Objective

To revise the guidelines for the allowable uses within hospitals located on sites zoned as Health and Medical Care in the Master Plan.

Background

1. In line with the government’s initiative to attract more foreign patients, URA has reviewed the guidelines to allow visitors’ hostel to be provided within hospital developments so as to meet the needs of patients’ family members and travel companions who may require accommodation facilities near the hospitals. Supporting commercial uses such as retail shops and food & beverages uses are also permitted in hospitals to serve the patients and visitors.

2. To ensure that hospital development is used predominantly for hospital uses, hospital uses should form at least 60% of the total GFA. Proposals for the supporting visitors’ hostel use and other commercial uses are capped to within 40% of the total Gross Floor Area (GFA) with specific quantums and GFA caps.

Details of Revised Guidelines

3. To provide greater transparency on the allowable uses within hospital developments, URA in consultation with MOH and STB has reviewed the guidelines on the allowable uses within hospital developments as shown in Appendix 1 [PDF, 93.08 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab). The guidelines are as follows :

(I) Visitors’ Hostel

4. Visitors’ hostel within hospital developments located on sites zoned as “Health & Medical Care” in the Master Plan is not to exceed 10% of the total proposed GFA or 1,500 sqm, whichever is lower.

5. Proposed visitors’ hostel is subject to payment of development charge or differential premium, where applicable and the visitors’ hostel GFA will be computed under Residential (Non-landed) Group B2 rate.

6. A letter of undertaking (LOU) (see Appendix 2 [PDF, 96.63 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab)) is to be provided by the applicant to undertake that the visitors’ hostel shall only be occupied by the family members and companions of the hospital’s patients and the hospital’s outpatients.

(II) Commercial Quantum

7. Supporting commercial uses are not to exceed 5% of the total GFA. The uses within the 5% commercial quantum may include retail shops, retail pharmacies, food & beverage outlets and banks.

(III) Hospital Quantum

8. At least 60% of the total GFA shall be provided for hospital uses. The uses within the 60% (minimum) hospital quantum shall include in-patient/ outpatient facilities, medical suites, diagnostic and treatment facilities etc. Examples of hospital and related uses are as shown in Appendix 3 [PDF, 183.98 KB] ↗ (opens in new tab).

9. I 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 do not hesitate to call our DCD Enquiry Line at Tel: 6223 4811 or e-mail us at ura_dcd@ura.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab). We would be pleased to answer queries on this, and any other development control matter. For your information, the past circulars to the professional institutes are available from our website http://www.ura.gov.sg ↗ (opens in new tab).

Thank You.

HAN YONG HOE
DIRECTOR (DEVELOPMENT CONTROL)
for CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY