Revised guidelines for the integration of community and sports facilities in commercial developments

Circular No : URA/PB/2009/07-PPG

Our Ref : DC/ADMIN/CIRCULAR/PB_09

PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

Who Should Know:
Architects, building owners and developers

Effective Date:
With effect from 29 July 2009 and to remain valid till 29 July 2012.

This circular is superceded by Circular URA/PB/2012/01-PPG dated 06 Feb 2012”

Detailed Guidelines

Background

1. The scheme for the integration of community facilities in commercial developments was first introduced on 5 May 2003 to facilitate the co-location of compatible community uses with commercial uses for mutual benefit. It was revised on 3 Jan 2005 to better meet the needs of developers and community service providers. The scheme was then extended to include selected public sports uses on 3 Mar 2008 and renamed the Community/Sports Facilities Scheme.

2. As part of a larger review of the existing bonus GFA incentive schemes, URA has reviewed the Community/Sports Facilities Scheme and formulated a list of specific community uses that qualify under the scheme. The quantum of additional GFA allowed for community and/or sports uses within commercial developments is also revised.

Revised guidelines

1. In order to provide greater clarity to developers and community service providers on the type of uses that can be supported under the scheme, and to facilitate the application of the scheme to its intended community uses, URA has formulated a specific list of community uses and the location of commercial developments that would qualify under the scheme. The commercial site that can be considered for the community and/or sports use must be in close proximity to transport nodes or Town Centres/Neighbourhood Centres, and can be supported from the planning, land use and traffic points of view (see Appendix 1).

2. Proposals that qualify for the Community/Sports Facilities Scheme can enjoy additional gross floor area (GFA) for integrating community/sports uses within commercial developments. Previously, the additional GFA quantum was up to 4,000sqm or 10% of the maximum GFA allowable under the Master Plan2, whichever is lower.

3. URA has reviewed the typical space requirements of existing community uses approved under the scheme and observed that they generally do not exceed 2,000 sqm GFA. Hence, after consultation with the relevant government agencies, the additional GFA for community and/or sports uses within commercial developments is revised to an overall cap of 2,000sqm or 10% of the total GFA of the site allowed under the Master Plan, whichever is lower.

4. The cap will set the maximum GFA allowable under the scheme for both community and sports uses within a commercial development. This means that the development can put the additional GFA to community and/or sports uses, subject to an overall cap of 2,000sqm or 10% of the total GFA allowed under the Master Plan, whichever is lower. The additional GFA approved for the community and/or sports use will not form the future development potential of the site upon redevelopment.

5. The details of the guidelines to facilitate the co-location of community and sports uses within commercial developments are summarized in Appendix 1.

Replacement of community / sports user

1. In the event that the original community/sports user ceases to operate in the approved community/sports space, a replacement user3 for the entire community/sports space would have to be found. If no replacement community/sports user can be found, the community/sports space would not be allowed for conversion to other uses, and the Competent Authority has the option of requiring this space, allowed over and above the Master Plan GPR, to be removed.

2. Appendix 2 shows the party responsible for ensuring that the use of the community/sports space continues for the approved purpose. The community/sports user and the owner of the community/sports space shall seek approval from the Competent Authority on any change of user and proposed usage of the space.

Procedure

1. A letter of undertaking (LOU) (see Appendix 3A for community use and 3B for sports use) from the community service provider for community use and/or from the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) for sports use is to be submitted as part of the formal application to URA to obtain Provisional Permission (PP). In addition, for NGO/VWO taking over the community space directly, an endorsement letter from the relevant supporting government agency is to be obtained before the submission is made.

2. To facilitate developers to make use of this scheme, we have outlined the procedure for obtaining the relevant approval under the Planning Act in Appendix 4. We have also provided a step-by-step guide to help community service providers/ National Sports Associations (NSAs) who are keen to propose such community/sports space under this policy.

Implementation

1. To give the industry sufficient notice to adjust to the changes, the revised guidelines on the integration of community and sports facilities in commercial developments will take effect 3 months from the date of release of this circular (ie. effective on 29 Jul 2009). The revised scheme will apply to all new development applications received on or after the effective date. Only formal development applications (which do not include Outline Applications) with a valid PP issued for the proposed community and/or sports facility before the effective date will continue to be evaluated under the previous guidelines (see Circular No:URA/PB/2008/04-PPD dated 03 Mar 2008).

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 DCG Enquiry Line at Tel: 6223 4811 or email us atura_dcd@ura.gov.sg. We would be pleased to answer queries on this, and any other development control matters. For your information, the past circulars to the professional institutes are available from our websitehttp://www.ura.gov.sg.

Thank You.

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

¹ Community service providers can be government agencies, Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs).

² The ‘maximum GFA allowable under the MP’ does not include any additional GFA that may be allowed for a site under planning guidelines or incentive schemes approved by the Minister as provided under para 9.1 of the Master Plan Written Statement.

³ The replacement user can be a Community user or Sports user regardless of whether the original user was a Community or Sports user. The replacement user should meet the guidelines in Appendix 1 [ashx, 187 KB] to qualify for the Community/Sports Facilities Scheme.

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