- Can I change the use of my conservation building
without restoring it?
- What is the allowable use for my conservation building?
- How do I know whether I need to apply for change of use and need an approval from URA?
- When is Conservation Permission required?
- When is Conservation Permission not required?
- Who should apply for approval?
- If the owner is a company, who should apply for the change of use?
- What is the processing fee involved for a change of use application?
- What are the payment modes for change of use fee?
- Will the fee be refunded if my application is unsuccessful or withdrawn?
- How do I apply for approval?
- What happens after I submit my application?
- When can I expect a decision?
- Can I request for early approval?
- Will URA send reminder for renewal of Temporary Permission?
- How do I renew Temporary Permission?
- What happens if my application for renewal is disallowed?
- Do I have to submit an internal layout plan?
- For amalgamated buildings, can I submit one application
for the change of use of different floors to a single use?
- Can I submit one application for the change of use of
multiple units on one floor or different floors to different uses?
- Can I apply for renewal of Written Permission before the
expiry of Grant of Written Permission?
- If I have a valid Written Permission for a particular use,
and there is a change in tenant, do I have to apply for approval again?
- Can I apply for a change of use if the building is still
under construction?
- What and where are the core areas?
- What are the existing use controls in the core areas? What is the purpose of these controls?
- What are the types of incompatible and pollutive trades that are not allowed in the core areas today?
- What is the definition of health centres? Are spas counted as health centres?
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Can I change the use of my conservation building without restoring it?
Yes, you can. However, development charge, if any, will be levied and the provision of car parking must
be complied with. If you complete the restoration of the whole building according to the
Conservation Guidelines 2006, the development charge and car park deficiency charge can be waived.
|
What is the allowable use for my conservation building?
The allowable use shall follow the Master Plan zoning for the building.
For the Historic Districts of
Boat Quay,
Chinatown (Bukit Pasoh;
Kreta Ayer;
Tanjong Pagar ,
Telok Ayer ),
Kampong Glam and
Little India,
commercial and/or residential use are allowed for all conservation buildings. However,
within the core areas, which are the traditional focal point of activity, the first storey
of the shophouses can only be used as shops or eating houses. Outside these core areas,
offices, shops, hotels, institutions and residences can be considered on all floors.
Only shophouses with existing concrete floors may be changed to hotels or service apartments.
For the Historic Districts of
Blair Plain,
Cairnhill and
Emerald Hill,
residential use is to be retained except for sites which are zoned commercial, hotel
or residential with commercial at first storey.
For Secondary Settlements at
Beach Road,
Geylang,
Jalan Besar (Desker Road;
Race Course Road;
Petain Road/Tyrwhitt Road ),
Joo Chiat and
River Valley,
Mount Sophia,
Balestier,
Tiong Bahru,
Jalan Jurong Kechil
and Tanjong Katong
the building use will be guided by the Master Plan.
For Bungalow Areas at
Ridout Road,
Chatsworth Park,
Nassim Road/WhiteHouse Park
and Mountbatten,
residential use shall be retained.
For details, please refer to the
Conservation Guidelines 2006.
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How do I know whether I need to apply for change of use and need an approval from URA?
Yes, Conservation Permission is required from URA if there
is a material change in the use of your conservation building.
|
When is Conservation Permission required?
There are 15 use classes under the Planning (Use Classes) Rules 2001.
Unless specifically exempted, Conservation Permission for a change of use
is required when
a. the change in the use is from one
use class to another use class or
b. the change of use involves uses which do not fall into any use class
|
When is Conservation Permission not required?
Conservation Permission is not required when the change of use is between
uses under the same use class. For example, change of use of an approved
shop to a medical clinic and change of use of an approved childcare centre
to a student care centre are exempted from Conservation Permission.
In addition, change of the following uses to shop use are specifically
exempted from permission under the Planning (Development of Land Authorisation)
Notification. These uses are :
| Restaurant |
Bar / pub |
Confectionery |
| Health centre |
Sports & recreation use |
Betting outlet |
| Amusement centre |
Pet Shop |
Office / commercial school |
| Nightclub |
Laundry / dry cleaners shop |
Childcare centre |
| Community building uses |
Motor vehicle showroom |
Showroom |
For the List of Use Classes, please click
here
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Who should apply for approval?
Anyone can do so. If the tenant applies, he must declare that the owner's
consent has been obtained
|
If the owner is a company, who should apply for the
change of use?
Any authorised personnel of the company may apply for the change of use.
|
What is the processing fee involved for a change of use
application?
a. $300 (subject to GST) for change of use application
b. $150 (subject to GST) for renewal of Written Permission
|
What are the payment modes for change of use fee?
Change of use fee may be paid via electronic modes (credit cards & e-nets)
|
Will the fee be refunded if my application is unsuccessful
or withdrawn?
No.
|
How do I apply for approval?
You can use the following e-services to apply for Conservation Change-of-use :
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What happens after I submit my application?
We evaluate every application based on the conservation guidelines. For
entertainment uses such as karaoke lounges, discotheques, pubs and bars,
billiard saloons, computer gaming centres and amusement centres, a
Temporary Permission (TP) will be issued. The TP may be valid from 1 to
3 years if the change of use is approved. If you wish to continue
operation after the validity period, you have to renew the TP. Similarly,
we may cancel the TP any time if we receive complaints that the operation
is causing too much adverse impact on the neighbourhood.
If the application cannot be allowed, a Refusal of Written Permission (RWP)
with reasons given will be issued. If you wish to appeal for a review,
you can do so by submitting an
appeal form
to the Minister for National Development within 28 days from the date of the RWP.
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When can I expect a decision?
You can expect a decision within 2 weeks and the decision will be
conveyed to the applicant via e-mail.
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Can I request for early approval?
The applications are processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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Will URA send reminder for renewal of Temporary Permission?
No. You should keep a proper record of the approval granted and ensure
that you apply for renewal about 2 months before the Temporary Permission
lapses. If the Temporary Permission expires and renewal is not obtained,
the use will, in our records, automatically revert to its original
approved use, making your operation unauthorised.
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How do I renew Temporary Permission?
You can use the following e-services for renewal of Temporary Permission
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What happens if my application for renewal is disallowed?
If the renewal is not allowed, you should revert your conservation building
to the original approved use. Otherwise, enforcement action will be taken against you.
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Do I have to submit an internal layout plan?
Yes. You have to submit an internal layout plan if the subject unit within
an industrial/warehouse building; or when the change of use affects part of the unit.
|
For amalgamated buildings, can I submit one application for
the change of use of different floors to a single use?
Yes.
|
Can I submit one application for the change of use of multiple
units on one floor or different floors to different uses?
No. Separate applications are required for each of the units.
|
Can I apply for renewal of Written Permission before the expiry
of Grant of Written Permission?
Yes, you can apply for renewal of Written Permission 2 months before the
expiry of the Written Permission
|
If I have a valid Written Permission for a particular use,
and there is a change in tenant, do I have to apply for approval again?
No, permission granted is only for the use of the premises and change in
tenant does not affect the earlier approval.
|
Can I apply for a change of use if the building is still
under construction?
No, change of use of any part of the building before a TOP is granted by
the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) should be submitted as
an Amendment or Additions/Alterations application.
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What and where are the core areas?
In the Historic Districts of Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India,
certain streets are designated as core areas. These are the areas where
the ethnic trades and activities peculiar to these districts were formerly
concentrated. The three existing designated core areas are the Kreta Ayer,
Kampong Glam and Little India Core Areas.
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What are the existing use controls in the core areas?
What is the purpose of these controls?
The existing use controls are:
| a. |
Restricting the trades/ businesses at the first storey to
shops and eating establishments; and |
| b. |
Excluding incompatible and pollutive trades which do not
contribute to the core areas' ethnic character and ambience,
or discourage an active and vibrant street front |
These controls are intended to retain the ethnic ambience and character
of the Historic Districts, and to encourage activity-generating
uses on the first storey.
|
What are the types of incompatible and pollutive trades
that are not allowed in the core areas today?
The new exclusion list of trades that are incompatible with the character
of the core areas are as follows:
| a. |
Western fast-food restaurants |
| b. |
Supermarkets |
| c. |
Karaoke lounges, nightclubs, discotheques and amusement centres |
| d. |
Building materials/ Car showrooms |
| e. |
Nursing homes |
| f. |
Western knock-down furniture |
| g. |
Health centres (not allowed at the first storey but permitted
at the upper storeys for Chinatown and Little India only) |
| h. |
Bars/pubs:
| - |
Not allowed at the first storey but permitted at the upper storeys for Chinatown only |
| - |
Not allowed within Little India and Kampong Glam Core Areas at all storeys |
| - |
Not allowed within buildings along Kandahar, Baghdad, Pahang
and Aliwal Streets, Haji Lane and Sultan Gate and North Bridge Road in Kampong Glam |
|
| i. |
Offices (not allowed at the first storey but permitted at the upper storeys) |
The pollutive trades that are not allowed are:
| a. |
Engineering, spray-painting, welding, plumbing, motor, metal, joinery workshops |
| b. |
Tyres and battery shops |
| c. |
Printing presses |
| d. |
Plastic products manufacturing |
| e. |
Animal fodder/feed products manufacturing |
| f. |
Industries |
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What is the definition of health centres? Are spas counted as health centres?
Health centres are broadly defined as establishments used for physical
exercise and fitness activities. These include uses such as spas,
fitness centres, gymnasiums and massage establishments.
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Apply for Change of Use to Conservation Building FAQ
