SINGAPORE: In its push to introduce more greenery in the Republic's urban landscape, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Thursday (June 12) unveiled enhancements to its Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High Rises (LUSH) programme.
In a statement, the URA said LUSH 2.0 will cover more geographical parts of Singapore, and include more development types from the original scheme. Come Sept 12 this year, new private buildings and redevelopments will be required to replace the greenery they have displaced in building their projects, it said.
For instance, the landscape replacement policy originally applied only to new developments in areas around Marina Bay, Kallang Riverside and Jurong Gateway.
With the enhancement, the policy will extend to all new developments and redevelopments in:
Marina South
Part of Orchard Planning Area
Two mixed-use parcels along Orchard Boulevard in Paterson Hill
Subzone Woodlands Regional Centre
Punggol Creative Cluster
Tampines Regional Centre
Paya Lebar Central
Commercial and mixed-use developments within 19 Town Centres, including Sembawang, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Clementi and Bishan
Qualifying developments will need to incorporate green landscaping on at least 40 percent of the land area they occupy.
Commercial and residential developments elsewhere in Singapore will also have to set aside at least 30 per cent of their land area for green spaces.
The URA will extend its Bonus Gross Floor Area (GFA) for Outdoor Refreshment Areas (ORAs) on landscaped rooftops beyond developments that converted their existing roof into a roof garden or green roof. This originally applied only to existing buildings in the Orchard and Downtown Core planning areas. Now, it will extend to new developments and redevelopment proposals, as well as commercial and mixed use developments in parts of the Singapore River.
"This encourages new building owners to incorporate rooftop ORAs and required landscaping as part of their overall designs of the development from the start. In this way, we will be able to realise more of such green rooftop features," said the URA statement.
URA CEO Ng Lang said the enhanced programme is an effort involving many partner agencies, developers and building owners. "Through LUSH 2.0, we hope to bring greenery literally to greater heights in Singapore," he said.
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan had on Thursday lauded the impact LUSH had on the urban landscape, noting that the programme has added more than 40 hectares of green spaces within Singapore's urban environment.
- CNA/kk
Reply With Quote
