Circulars
Revisions to Rejuvenation Incentive Schemes for Strategic Areas: Central Business District (CBD) Incentive Scheme 2.0 & Strategic Development Incentive (SDI) Scheme 2.0
7 February 2025
Tags
Development Control
Urban Planning and Design
Circular No: URA/PB/2025/02-CUDG
Our Ref: DC/ADMIN/CIRCULAR/PB_25
CIRCULAR TO PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES
Who Should Know:
Building Owners, Developers, Qualified Persons
Effective Date:
07 February 2025 to 06 February 2030
This Circular supersedes the Circular Package on “Update to Rejuvenation Incentive Schemes for Strategic Areas” (URA/PB/2022/03-CUDG) dated 04 April 2022.
URA introduced the CBD Incentive (CBDI) Scheme and Strategic Development Incentive (SDI) Scheme in 2019 to encourage selective rejuvenation of our CBD and other strategic areas, where appropriate, to achieve positive transformation in these areas. Revisions were made to both schemes in 2022 to ensure developments met enhanced outcomes in the areas of digitalisation, productivity and sustainability.
In the lead up to Draft Master Plan 2025, we have reviewed the schemes and updated the criteria and conditions for all proposal submissions under both schemes.
Introduction of new sustainability requirements for CBDI and SDI Schemes
CBDI and SDI proposals are required to achieve higher sustainability standards under BCA’s Green Mark (GM) framework.
In line with URA’s continued efforts to raise the bar on sustainable development, rejuvenation proposals under the CBDI and SDI schemes will be asked to demonstrate that considered efforts are made to mitigate carbon emissions from construction activity. In particular:
All proposals will be required to submit a Sustainability Statement as part of their development application to:
Consider the feasibility of retrofitting part / all of the existing building(s) for adaptive reuse, and
Outline the considerations and trade-offs between different development scenarios.
Based on the URA’s assessment of the submitted Sustainability Statement, applicants may subsequently be required to submit a carbon optioneering assessment weighing the trade-offs of different development scenarios as part of the formal submission to URA for planning approval.
Meaningful retrofit and adaptive reuse proposals may be considered as positive public contributions under the revised SDI scheme.
Revisions to the CBDI scheme for Anson and Cecil CBDI Areas
In view of market trends and industry feedback, the eligibility criteria will be relaxed to support CBDI proposals seeking land use conversions to Commercial Use (with 40% Non-Commercial uses) in the Anson and Cecil Areas, subject to mandatory long-stay Serviced Apartment (SA2) provision requirements[1]. In line with the planning vision to encourage a greater degree of mixed-uses in the Anson and Cecil neighbourhoods, such proposals should also have a good diversification of uses and achieve a meaningful reduction in existing office quantum.
The details of the revised schemes are outlined below:
The revised CBDI and SDI schemes will be in effect from 07 February 2025 to 06 February 2030[2] and will apply to all Outline Applications submitted within the validity period of the scheme. Proposals under the CBDI and SDI Schemes will also have to comply with the prevailing urban design guidelines for their respective planning areas.
I would appreciate it if you could convey the contents of this circular to your members. You are advised to refer to the Development Control Handbooks and URA’s website for updated guidelines instead of referring to past circulars.
For other information on the master plan, urban design guidelines, private property use and approval, car park locations and availability, private residential property transactions, and conservation areas and buildings, use URA SPACE (Service Portal and Community e-Services). This is an online portal packed with useful data and visualisation to help building professionals, business operators and the general public in their decision-making. It consolidates detailed information on land use and private property into a one-stop platform presented on geospatial maps. For feedback or enquiries on this circular, please email (opens in new tab) us.
Thank You.
CHOU MEI (MS)
GROUP DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND URBAN DESIGN GROUP)
for CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
1 Proposals seeking rejuvenation / redevelopment under this land use conversion option will need to either (i) set aside the entire non-Commercial quantum for Serviced Apartment II (SA2) use, or (ii) provide a minimum of 200 SA2 units. If option (ii) is pursued, any remaining GFA under the allowable non-Commercial quantum can be put to uses such as Hotel or Residential use.
2 The scheme will apply to Outline Applications submitted before or on 06 February 2030 leading to URA’s in-principle support for the proposal.