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Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Circulars

URA/DC Plan Release 3/2008E Street Block Plan for Balestier Road between Thomson Road and Moulmein Road [Novena Planning Area]

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5 December 2008

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Circular No : URA/PB/2008/21-PPD

Our Ref : DC/ADMIN/CIRCULAR/PB_08

Fax : 6227 4792

CIRCULAR TO PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

Who Should Know:
Architects, engineers, developers, shophouses/flats owners.

Effective Date:
The guideline will take effect from 5 Dec 08.

Objective

This guideline is to inform developers of the building height and building edge plans to guide developments along Balestier Road (between Thomson Road and Moulmein Road) in the Balestier Conservation Area.

Background

  1. Balestier Road is a historical shopping street where the juxtaposition of old and new can be seen in the beautiful conserved shophouses and modern residential and commercial buildings that form the streetscape. It has a strong identity and in recognition of its strong heritage value and distinctive old world charm of the area, Balestier Road was designated as an Identity Node in URA’s Identity Plan in 2002, and gazetted as the Balestier Road Conservation Area in 2003. The Balestier Road area is popular with residents, local and foreign visitors as it is a mixed residential and commercial use area with eating, shopping and entertainment establishments which add vibrancy to the area.

  2. The Building Height and Building Edge Plans described below provide guidelines for the conservation and redevelopment of properties within the Balestier Road Conservation area.

Building Height & Building Edge Plans (See Appendices 1 & 2)

  1. The Building Height Plan depicts the allowable building height for Street Block Sites where redevelopment can be allowed, and sites with Conservation Buildings where the main building must be conserved and the rear portion of the lots can be redeveloped. The Building Edge Plan indicates the details regarding requirements for party-wall development, building edge alignment, covered walkways and building setbacks.

Street Block Sites

  1. To maintain the strong urban form flanking the thoroughfare, new buildings must be party-wall developments abutting Balestier Road. To retain the scale of the streetscape, the front portion of Street Block Sites can be built up to 4 storeys, to be sympathetic with the existing character of the street which consists mainly of low-rise shophouses, and podium developments between 2 to 4 storeys fronting the road.

  2. Where the Street Block Site is adjacent to Conservation Buildings, the depth of the 4-storey front portion is to tie in with the adjacent building that is to be conserved. Where there is no conservation building within the streetblock, the 4-storey front portion is to have a minimum depth of 7.5m.

  3. Beyond the 4-storey front portion, the maximum building height can be increased to 6 storeys or part 6/part 36 storeys. The 6-storey portion is to tie in with the allowable rear extension of the nearby conserved buildings and the 36-storey portion is consistent with what is allowed for the immediate surrounding residential developments.

Conservation Buildings

  1. Similar to the guidelines for the Secondary Settlements like Joo Chiat and Geylang, only the main buildings fronting the road need to be conserved while the rear can be redeveloped up to 6-storeys. This will ensure that the new extension is compatible with the low-rise front conserved building in terms of proportion. The new extension will also be less obtrusive when viewed from the road. The resultant proportion will help to maintain a sense of human scale along Balestier Road.

  2. 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 atura_dcd@ura.gov.sg. 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 websitehttp://www.ura.gov.sg.

Thank You.

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

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