http://www.straitstimes.com/Money/St...ry_822168.html

Some areas ripe for building curbs

Experts say Kovan, Rosyth and Hillside have become crowded

Published on Jul 14, 2012

By AMANDA TAN


THE increasingly crowded areas of Rosyth, Hillside and Kovan could be ripe candidates for tougher building measures to ease congestion, said property experts.

These traditionally landed areas have become more built-up, with at least a dozen new projects being built in the last five years.

Mr Chris Koh, Chris International's director, said he would not be surprised at tighter development controls in Rosyth, Hillside and Kovan, given the proliferation of private projects. 'This has increased the population and housing density in the area,' he noted.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) said on Tuesday that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) are studying whether a more stringent cap is needed, specifically for Rosyth, Hillside and Kovan.

The stricter caps would be similar to those imposed on Telok Kurau, where there has been a rapid growth of blocks featuring small apartments.

This is in line with the Government's move to cap the number of units allowed for flat and condominium developments in low-density residential areas.

Last November, the URA set a minimum plot size of 1,000 sq m for non-landed residential projects to ensure there is space for landscaping or facilities. It followed concerns of overcrowding, which has worsened with more shoebox units being built.

Low-density estates have become increasingly cramped, leading to traffic congestion and a dip in the overall quality of life.

The 521-unit Kovan Residences, 17-unit One Rosyth and 18-unit Mint Residences@Jansen are some projects built in the last three years or so, while Vibes @ Kovan, Residences Botanique and Bliss@Kovan are in the pipeline.

Mr Koh said: 'Caps could be put on the minimum plot sizes. Otherwise, every developer will think he can build a block just because he has a bungalow plot.

'If minimum plot sizes are set bigger, developers will have to get more than one landed house owner to agree to sell, making it harder for him to build there.'

Guidelines could also ensure a mix of unit sizes, restricting developers from building predominantly small ones. Mr Koh pointed out that roads in landed areas are usually one-way streets, which could exacerbate traffic congestion. Security could also be a concern if the tenant population is large and varied.

But there is nothing to stop landed home owners in the Rosyth, Hillside and Kovan areas from selling their properties collectively because the land can be used for non-landed housing as well, noted Mr Lee Sze Teck, Dennis Wee Group's senior manager of research and consultancy.

'This has affected the character of the area,' he added.

But he was sceptical that building controls would alleviate traffic congestion, as motorists use the residential roads as a short cut to the expressway. Measures can also be counter-productive, and may induce pre-emptive irrational buying among home hunters.

'Putting a minimum size on units may result in developers designing more bedrooms in the units, which does not solve the density and traffic problem,' Mr Lee said.

Landed property owners in the area said they welcome controls.

Business director Nicholas Ng, 60, said: 'More people in the area mean more cars. Roads in private estates are smaller, they cannot accommodate the population growth.

'Developers shouldn't be encouraged to replace all these old bungalows with mini-condos.'

Mr Daryl Sie, 60, added: 'I still feel like an owner of landed property, but if these condos keep popping up, the ambience will change.'

[email protected]

Additional reporting by Alvin Lim