Business Times: URA studying plans for prime sites
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Daniel Leong
Jun 12, 2007, 6:15:50 PM6/12/07
to News - Orchard
Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:20 am (SGT)
June 11, 2007
URA studying plans for prime sites
State land in Scotts Rd, Goodwood Hill, North Bridge Rd areas under
study By ARTHUR SIM
(SINGAPORE) More prime sites could be made available if ongoing
studies by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on some of these
potential sites prove feasible.
So far, URA has revealed that it is studying the areas around Scotts
Road and Goodwood Hill, as well as around Capitol Theatre and Capitol
Centre.
URA said: 'For both studies, they involve the future redevelopment
plans for only the state-owned land and properties within the
respective areas.'
The URA would not say if these are part of a larger urban planning
study, but it is known that a new Master Plan is expected in 2008.
The Master Plan, which was last revised in 2003, is the statutory
land use plan which guides Singapore's development in the medium
term, over the next 10 to 15 years. It is reviewed every five years,
and translates the broad, long-term strategies set out in the Concept
Plan into detailed implementable plans. It shows the permissible land
use and density for every parcel of land here.
For the area comprising Capitol Theatre and Capitol Centre on North
Bridge Road, URA says that the site has not been gazetted for
conservation. It has been zoned for commercial use but a gross plot
ratio (GPR) has not been assigned yet.
The GPR could have a bearing on the redevelopment potential on the
particular site as well as surrounding areas. Knight Frank director
(research and consultancy) Nicholas Mak said: 'Once you up the plot
ratio of one site, you might have to do it for the whole street.'
CapitaMall Trust (CMT) does have plans to partially redevelop Funan
DigitaLife Mall on North Bridge Road.
It is understood that under current planning parameters, existing
building height limits have put some restrictions on its plans.
Revised GPR could also see CMT build an even bigger building on the
site.
An indication of how soon redevelopment could take place would be the
length of the leases. The leasing agent for the state-owned
properties is the Singapore Land Authority.
For Capitol Centre, currently home to TMC Academy, its spokesman said
it had just renewed its lease for another year. 'We don't know what
happens after that,' said TMC Academy.
Leases for the colonial bungalows on Scotts Road, now being used as
F&B outlets, are even shorter. BT learned that some tenants have been
told their leases will expire in September.
The area under study also includes Goodwood Hill, a neighbourhood of
colonial bungalows for residential use. It is not known how
many 'black-and-white' bungalows there are on state-owned land in
Singapore. But URA said that some of these, including those at Scotts
Road and Goodwood Hill - which are not gazetted for conservation -
are within sites where 'long-term plans are still being studied'.
Perhaps more important is that the areas along Scotts Road may not be
maximised to their full potential yet. According to the Master Plan
2003, there are still large tracts of land around Newton MRT Station
still undeveloped and subject to detailed control.
Recent developments on Scotts Roads have indicated that the area
could be ripe for redevelopment.
The former Hotel Asia, being rebuilt by Hayden Properties into a
luxury condo, could set a new benchmark for residential properties
there if the developer achieves its target of $4,000 psf for the
units.
The area also includes the Environment Building, home to the Ministry
of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). A spokesman for MEWR said
it has 'no immediate plans to vacate its premises'.
On what to expect in next year's Master Plan, Mr Mak said he did not
think there was pressure to add more residential sites to the
government land sales programme as there are already many collective
sale sites being redeveloped.
'This time round, they could increase the plot ratio in some
commercial areas to spur redevelopment. I think the focus could be on
Marina Bay and New Downtown,' he added.
URA studying plans for prime sites
State land in Scotts Rd, Goodwood Hill, North Bridge Rd areas under
study By ARTHUR SIM
(SINGAPORE) More prime sites could be made available if ongoing
studies by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on some of these
potential sites prove feasible.
So far, URA has revealed that it is studying the areas around Scotts
Road and Goodwood Hill, as well as around Capitol Theatre and Capitol
Centre.
URA said: 'For both studies, they involve the future redevelopment
plans for only the state-owned land and properties within the
respective areas.'
The URA would not say if these are part of a larger urban planning
study, but it is known that a new Master Plan is expected in 2008.
The Master Plan, which was last revised in 2003, is the statutory
land use plan which guides Singapore's development in the medium
term, over the next 10 to 15 years. It is reviewed every five years,
and translates the broad, long-term strategies set out in the Concept
Plan into detailed implementable plans. It shows the permissible land
use and density for every parcel of land here.
For the area comprising Capitol Theatre and Capitol Centre on North
Bridge Road, URA says that the site has not been gazetted for
conservation. It has been zoned for commercial use but a gross plot
ratio (GPR) has not been assigned yet.
The GPR could have a bearing on the redevelopment potential on the
particular site as well as surrounding areas. Knight Frank director
(research and consultancy) Nicholas Mak said: 'Once you up the plot
ratio of one site, you might have to do it for the whole street.'
CapitaMall Trust (CMT) does have plans to partially redevelop Funan
DigitaLife Mall on North Bridge Road.
It is understood that under current planning parameters, existing
building height limits have put some restrictions on its plans.
Revised GPR could also see CMT build an even bigger building on the
site.
An indication of how soon redevelopment could take place would be the
length of the leases. The leasing agent for the state-owned
properties is the Singapore Land Authority.
For Capitol Centre, currently home to TMC Academy, its spokesman said
it had just renewed its lease for another year. 'We don't know what
happens after that,' said TMC Academy.
Leases for the colonial bungalows on Scotts Road, now being used as
F&B outlets, are even shorter. BT learned that some tenants have been
told their leases will expire in September.
The area under study also includes Goodwood Hill, a neighbourhood of
colonial bungalows for residential use. It is not known how
many 'black-and-white' bungalows there are on state-owned land in
Singapore. But URA said that some of these, including those at Scotts
Road and Goodwood Hill - which are not gazetted for conservation -
are within sites where 'long-term plans are still being studied'.
Perhaps more important is that the areas along Scotts Road may not be
maximised to their full potential yet. According to the Master Plan
2003, there are still large tracts of land around Newton MRT Station
still undeveloped and subject to detailed control.
Recent developments on Scotts Roads have indicated that the area
could be ripe for redevelopment.
The former Hotel Asia, being rebuilt by Hayden Properties into a
luxury condo, could set a new benchmark for residential properties
there if the developer achieves its target of $4,000 psf for the
units.
The area also includes the Environment Building, home to the Ministry
of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). A spokesman for MEWR said
it has 'no immediate plans to vacate its premises'.
On what to expect in next year's Master Plan, Mr Mak said he did not
think there was pressure to add more residential sites to the
government land sales programme as there are already many collective
sale sites being redeveloped.
'This time round, they could increase the plot ratio in some
commercial areas to spur redevelopment. I think the focus could be on
Marina Bay and New Downtown,' he added.
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