The government is worried that building more housing units could cause traffic problems in future.
Residential en bloc redevelopment proposals must now include a pre-application feasibility study (PAFS) to assess traffic impact and recommend car-lite measures, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said in a circular published on Monday (13 November).
This follows an increase in applications from developers for more housing units to be built on such sites, which could cause traffic problems in future.
Effective immediately, developers or property agencies acting on behalf of collective sales committees must submit a PAFS to LTA for evaluation and approval before submitting an outline application or development application to URA.
The study, which is applicable to sites zoned residential, residential with commercial at 1st storey and commercial & residential, is not required for proposals approved before 13 November.
Interested parties will need to engage an experienced traffic consultant to assess the estimated number of units that can be built, impact of traffic on nearby junctions, and propose car-lite initiatives, traffic demand management measures and/or feasible transport improvement plans, such as setting aside land for road widening.
“From a planning and transport perspective, the significant increase in dwelling units may cause a strain on the existing road network of an area, and may lead to congestion and disamenities for residents,” said LTA and URA.
“There will be the need to consider how the redevelopment can bring changes to our physical environment in a manner that is more sustainable and aligned with our vision for a more liveable and car-lite city.”
The study will also reduce the need to revise development plans and expedite the approval process.
LTA and URA will continue to monitor and assess if there is a need to extend the PAFS to other types of developments in future.
Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg
