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Source: www.stb.gov.sg |
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URA and STB Announce Revised
Approach To Evaluating Hotel Conversion Applications |
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The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and
the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) today announced the discontinuance of
the Hotel Safeguarding Policy introduced in 1997. |
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Under the Policy, hotels within designated
areas were not allowed to convert to other uses. Hotels located outside
these designated areas on the other hand could be converted to other
uses such as residential or commercial, subject to planning approval. |
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Henceforth, applications to convert sites
zoned for Hotel use to other uses will be considered under the national
planning framework, taking into account the prevailing planning
intentions as reflected in the Master Plan. |
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In addition, URA will continue to take into
account the sufficiency of hotel developments when evaluating such
applications. The change puts the land use regulatory framework for
Hotels in line with other uses. |
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Under its Tourism 2015 plan, STB is
targeting 17 million visitors and S$30 billion in tourism receipts
by 2015. To meet these targets, the number of hotel rooms would need
to be increased by 2015. The revised approach to evaluating hotel
conversion applications will ensure that the location and number of
hotel rooms safeguarded are in line with planning intentions and
strategic planning objectives. |
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Revised approach to evaluating hotel
conversions |
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As a general rule, hotels will not be
allowed to be converted to other uses where: |
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a) The hotels are located on sites zoned for hotel use in the
Master Plan; and |
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b) The hotels are located within sites zoned for other uses
but where there is a specific planning or sales requirement for a
minimum hotel quantum to be provided. |
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Similarly, non-hotel developments
currently on sites zoned for hotel use will only be allowed to be
redeveloped for hotel uses in line with the planning intention as
reflected in the URA Master Plan. |
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Any exception will be considered on a
case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the land use and
planning intention (such as the planning vision for the area and the
appropriateness of having hotels within specific areas), and
strategic planning objectives to ensure sufficient hotel development
in Singapore to meet tourism needs and sustain economic growth. |
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Hotel uses located on sites that are
zoned for other uses under the Master Plan, such as commercial or
‘white’ sites, without any requirement for a minimum hotel quantum,
will be allowed to be converted to other uses based on the
suitability of the alternative use. |
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Meeting Planning Objectives |
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To develop Singapore as a vibrant global
city, many key districts such as Orchard Road, Singapore River and
Marina Centre within the Central Area (CA) are planned with a mix of
uses (e.g. office, retail, convention facilities, hotel and
residential uses) to enhance their attractiveness as destinations
for both locals and tourists alike. |
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The contribution of hotels to this mix
of uses is vital to the vibrancy and character of these districts
and critical to their continued success. |
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These key districts are also preferred
locations for tourists and hotel accommodation. Hence, it is
important to ensure a critical mass of hotel rooms within the key
districts to meet the projected demand from visitors. |
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Source: www.stb.gov.sg
Media Release 14 Jan 2008 |
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FrontPage Edition: Thu 17 January 2008
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