Kingsford allowed to start work in some areas of condo project

APR 06, 2018

LYNETTE KHOO


CHINESE developer Kingsford Development, which was slapped with an order to stop building works at its condominium project in Upper Serangoon View, has been permitted to resume works at areas that do not require rectification.

When asked for an update on the project Kingsford Waterbay, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) told The Business Times that this partial lifting of the order was granted on March 19. But the order to stop work remains in force for all other areas that require rectification.

BCA had earlier ordered the developer to stop building works on Dec 1, 2017, because of its failure to meet certain requirements.

"It will only be lifted when all the necessary rectification works have been completed to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Building Control," the BCA spokesman said.

BCA's order to stop building works was triggered by a site inspection, following feedback received on Nov 22 last year on suspected construction safety issues at the project.

During the site inspection, its engineers observed that some building works such as windows, barriers and common storey shelter had deviated from requirements under the Building Control Act and Regulations.

While the order to stop building works remains in force, Kingsford Development can continue selling units in the condominium project.

As at February this year, it has sold 1,032 of the total 1,165 units in the project, with 34 units sold within the month of February at a median price of S$1,349 per square foot (psf), up from the median S$1,115 psf for all transactions in 2015, the year when the project was launched.

Kingsford Development, which won its first residential site in Singapore in 2012, is owned by three Chinese nationals including its chairman Cui Zhengfeng, as well as Shenyang Kingsford Fulicheng House Development.

The main contractor for its development projects is Kingsford Construction, set up in 2012 with Mr Cui as the sole shareholder and director.

When contacted, Mr Cui said the group is consolidating its report on the outstanding issues to be submitted to the BCA within the next few days.

Structural integrity tests have been undertaken on the residential blocks by accredited independent third-parties engaged by the group.

The letter from BCA to Kingsford Development dated March 19 spells out specific building works that the developer is allowed to commence on, including structural works in certain areas, certain drainage works, mechanical and electrical works, and aluminium alloy window installation.