Five New Growth Areas to be Gazetted as Car-Lite Precincts
In line with Singapore’s move towards a car-lite society, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will introduce a new Range-based Parking Provision Standards (RPPS)[1] from 1 February 2019, to replace the existing Car Parking Standards[2] (CPS) and Range-based Car Parking Standards[3] (RCPS). The revised parking standards will accord developers greater flexibility in managing parking provisions according to the needs of the developments, particularly in areas well-connected to the public transport system, and free up more land for community spaces and greenery.
Towards a Car-lite Singapore
2. LTA has made significant improvements to our public transport system over the past years. We have added new rail lines and bus services, constructed integrated transport hubs, and expanded our network of sheltered walkways and cycling paths. These have improved connectivity and made walking, cycling and taking public transport easier and more convenient. We have also reduced the vehicle growth rate for cars and motorcycles from 0.25% per annum to 0% from February 2018 onwards. Taking these factors into account, LTA will adjust the car parking provision standards, particularly in areas that are well-served by public transport.
Range-based Parking Provision Standards
3. The RPPS will specify the range of car parking provisions that private developments are allowed to provide, which will vary according to location zones and land uses. This differs from the CPS which only sets a minimum standard for developments in different zones and land uses. Unlike the RCPS, where LTA’s approval is required to reduce parking provision by up to 20% below the minimum standard stipulated by the CPS, the RPPS grants developers flexibility to determine the desired level of car parking provision within the stipulated range, without the need to seek LTA’s approval.
4. To ensure new developments cater for motorcycle lots, LTA will also introduce mandatory range-based requirements for motorcycle parking provision in all non-residential developments. 5% of the total car and motorcycle parking lot provision requirement for developments will be allocated to motorcycles.
5. Deviations in parking provision above or below the parking provision requirements may incur Deficiency Charges. Any application to deviate from the specified range of parking provisions will be evaluated by LTA on a case-by-case basis. This is to ensure that any deviation in parking provision will not cause disamenities to the area. As per current practice, parking provided above the upper bound under the RPPS framework may be counted into the total allowable Gross Floor Area (GFA) quantum[4] of the development in specified land uses. A summary of the RPPS, RCPS and CPS is appended for reference.
| Car Parking Standard (CPS) | Range-based Car Parking Standard (RCPS) | Range-based Parking Provision Standards (RPPS) |
Concept | Stipulates a minimum parking provision | Some developments[5] may apply to reduce parking provision by up to 20% from the CPS minimum | Stipulates a range of parking provisions |
Effective period | 1965 – 31 Jan 2019 | 2005 – 31 Jan 2019 | From 1 Feb 2019 |
Motorcycle standard | No existing standard | 5% of car and motorcycle parking provision requirement | |
Provision outside of standard | Waiver application required for provisions below the minimum standard; Deficiency Charge may apply | Waiver application required to provide below or above the range; Deficiency Charge may apply | |
Deficiency charge | Zone 1: $32,000/ lot; Zones 2 and 3: $16,000/ lot below allowable minimum | $16,000/car parking lot or $5,500/ motorcycle lot below or above allowable range for Zones 1-3 | |
GFA penalty | Applies for surplus lots above minimum standard in specified land uses | Applies for surplus lots above upper bound in specified land uses |
Reclassification of Zones under RPPS
6. The “Code of Practice for Vehicle Parking Provision in Development Proposals” will be updated to reflect the new parking standards and reclassification of zones within the new RPPS. The reclassification is as follows:
- Zone 1: City (Restricted Zone) and Marina Bay, except Zone 4;
- Zone 2: Areas within 400m radius from a rapid transit system station outside Zone 1, except Zone 4;
- Zone 3: All other areas except Zone 4; and
- Zone 4: Gazetted car-lite precincts.
7. The parking provision requirements for developments in Zones 1 and 2 under the RPPS are as follows:
- Zone 1: For commercial (office, retail, food and beverage (F&B), and hotel), non-residential white site[6], and private residential (condominiums and apartments) uses, the lower bound will be reduced by 50%, and the upper bound by 20% from the CPS minimum standard.
- Zone 2: For retail, food and beverage (F&B), and hotel uses, the lower bound will be reduced by 50% from the CPS minimum standard, and the upper bound will be set at the current CPS minimum standard. For office uses, the lower bound will be reduced by 50%, and the upper bound will be reduced by 20% from the CPS minimum standard.
- For all other uses in Zone 1 and 2, and all uses in Zone 3, the lower bound will be reduced by 20% from the CPS minimum standard, and the upper bound will be set at the current CPS minimum standard.
Please refer to Annex A for a summary of the changes, and Annex B for examples.
Gazetting of Five New Car-lite Precincts
8. Five new growth areas – Marina South, Kampong Bugis, Woodlands North, Bayshore and Jurong Lake District – will be gazetted for development as car-lite precincts. These precincts will be planned with added support for public transport and alternative travel options. Parking provision for development applications within these precincts will be determined by LTA on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to Annex C for details of these new precincts.
Implementation of RPPS
9. Developments that have obtained the necessary approvals from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on or after 1 February 2019 will be allowed to provide any level of parking provision within the specified range. The changes will apply to new developments, redevelopment, selected additions and alterations (A&A) and change of use[7] applications received on or after 1 February 2019, and will not be applied retrospectively.
Annex A: Summary of Changes to the Car Parking Standards
Annex B: Examples of New Parking Provision Standard
Annex C: Car-lite Precincts
[1] The Parking Places (Amendment) Act 2018 was passed on 20 March 2018 to give LTA the power to better calibrate the parking provision requirements for private developments.
[2] The CPS stipulates minimum car parking requirements for developments based on the land uses they comprise, their location, and their gross floor area quantum/number of units developed.
[3] A reduction of up to 20% from the CPS requirement is allowed under the Range-based Car Parking Standards (RCPS), subject to LTA’s approval.
[4] Please refer to URA’s Gross Floor Area Handbook for more details: https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Guidelines/Development-Control/gross-floor-area
[5] Residential developments in Zone 3, i.e. situated outside of the Central Business District (including Marina Bay), and beyond 400m of a train station are not allowed to apply for RCPS.
[6] A white site is an area used or intended to be used mainly for commercial, hotel, residential, sports & recreational and other compatible uses, or a combination of two or more such uses as a mixed development.
[7] The new standards will apply to A&A applications involving increase in GFA or change in existing or approved carpark layout or provision, and change of use applications involving more than 160m2 of GFA.