http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/arch...areas-20140613

Published June 13, 2014

URA's landscape renewal to cover more areas

Policy extended to include residential, commercial, hotel, mixed-use projects

By sheena tan

[email protected]


THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday announced enhancements to the 2009 Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High Rises (LUSH) programme, aimed at encouraging developers to plan for more green spaces in Singapore.

Termed LUSH 2.0, which includes the landscape replacement policy, it will now cover more geographic areas.

Developments in strategic areas must replace the full site area with green communal spaces - at least 40 per cent must be planting areas and the remaining 60 per cent landscaped communal areas.

Additionally, the policy has been expanded to cover all residential, commercial, hotel and mixed-use developments outside strategic areas to set a minimum greening standard island-wide.

Developments have to replace between 30 and 40 per cent of the full site area with planting areas depending on its gross plot ratio. More intensive developments will need to produce more greenery.

The policy to cover more areas is effective Sept 12 this year. Ng Lang, URA's chief executive officer, said this effort involves many partner agencies including developers and building owners working together.

UOL Group's president (property), Liam Wee Sin, said Singapore's identity as a "city in the garden" distinguishes it from other cities.

Mr Liam said one concern would be to replace less intensive development sites with 30 per cent planted area, of which two-thirds must be on the ground.

While more challenging, Mr Liam said this can be overcome with conscious effort and upfront planning.

Thus far, UOL has 10 developments under LUSH. Of these, landscaped spaces (including vertical greenery) in Parkroyal on Pickering replaces lost greenery by more than two times. For Newton Suites, the figure is 1.3 times.

Under the new initiative the bonus gross floor area (GFA) for outdoor refreshment areas on landscaped roofs in existing commercial and mixed-use developments is also extended to include new developments, areas and multiple roofs.

Mr Liam said LUSH has been broadly adopted by most developers. In the past two years, over half of new residential developments and a third of shopping malls, offices and hotels have taken up LUSH incentive schemes.

Mr Liam does not expect difficulty in convincing developers as greenery on a skyrise level is a definite benefit, and may even be a marketing tool.

"The long-term tangible and intangible benefits of having a green building will outweigh the costs," he said.