BY: John Geddie
SINGAPORE: Singapore has announced stricter guidelines on the maximum number of units in new blocks of private flats and condominiums in a move to tackle what authorities have called “excessive development of shoebox units” in the island-state.
The guidelines, which apply to applications for developments outside the central area received on or after Jan. 17 next year, tighten rules first introduced in 2012.
Singapore this year unveiled its strongest property cooling measures in five years, including extra taxes on developers that had been paying record sums to buy land for residential use.
“With the revised guidelines, developers are encouraged to provide a wide range of unit sizes that will cater to the diverse needs of all segments of the market, including larger families,” the Urban Redevelopment Authority said in a circular posted on its website.
“The guidelines will also help moderate the reduction in dwelling unit sizes, safeguard the liveability of our residential estates and ensure that the local infrastructure will not be overly strained.”
Under the revised rules, the maximum number of dwelling units per development will be calculated by a proposed building’s gross floor area divided by 85 square metres, division by 70 square metres currently.
The new rules have also added more areas where the maximum number of units are calculated by total area divided by 100 square metres.
(Editing by David Goodman)
Source: Reuters