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Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Circulars

Rescindment Of The Planning Policy To Allow Conversion Of Residential Sites In Ochard Planning Area And Bras Basah.Bugis To Hotel Use

Tags

Development Control

Urban Planning and Design

20 November 2013

Circular No : URA/PB/2013/12-CUDG

Our Ref : DC/ADMIN/CIRCULAR/PB_13

Fax : 6220 3201

CIRCULAR TO PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

Who Should Know:
Architects, building owners and developers

Effective Date:
With effect from 20 November 2013

Background 

  1. The above policy was introduced in April 2008 to encourage the conversion of Residential sites to Hotel use within the Orchard Planning Area and Bras Basah.Bugis with GFA incentive. This was in line with the strategic intention then to encourage more hotel developments within Central Area, to support the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) vision to double Singapore’s Visitor Arrivals (VA) to 17 million by 2015.

Details of Policy Rescindment

  1. Having implemented the policy for 5 years, URA has reviewed the policy with STB, and assessed that it has fulfilled its objective of helping to boost the supply of hotel rooms within the Central Area. This supply also been augmented with the addition of new hotel developments in the city since 2008.

  2. This policy will therefore be discontinued, as there is no longer a specific need to encourage the conversion of residential sites within Orchard Road and Bras Basah.Bugis to Hotel use.

  3. Any proposal to convert sites zoned for Residential use to Hotel or other uses will continue to be considered based on the planning intention for the site and its surrounding area. These proposals can be submitted as an Outline Application to URA’s Development Control Group (DCG) for evaluation.

  4. 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 contact our Urban Planning & Design Department (email: ura_upd_da_team@ura.gov.sg (opens in new tab)) or our Development Control Group (DCG) Enquiry Line at Tel: 6223 4811 (email: ura_dcd@ura.gov.sg (opens in new tab)). We will 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.

Thank You.

FUN SIEW LENG (MS)
GROUP DIRECTOR (URBAN PLANNING & DESIGN)
for CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY