CV4011/CV4201-Project Planning & Management

Lectures 3 & 4 on:

1. Introduction to Planning Act
2. Introduction & discussion on Building
Control Act

Instructor:
Dr Wong Wai Fan
(PE, Adjudicator)
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Lecture 3- Planning Act
■ Any new building project development requires two major stages of
approval**:
- Planning approval (governed by Planning Act)
- Building plan approval (governed by Building Control Act)

3.0 Planning Act (1998 edition with amendments)

Comprising 8 parts, 62 sections
- It is an Act to provide law on planning and improvement of
Singapore in general land use, on matters relating to:
■ Master Plan
■ Planning Permission
■ Development Charge
■ Conservation Permission
■ Subdivision Permission

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3.0 Enforcement of Planning Act (section 5):
■ Competent Authority (CA) appointed by Minister to ensure
development works conforms to Master Plan:
- Normally assumed by Chief Planner/CEO of URA - overall
- Other specific areas, example: Manager of LTA - for planning of
car parks

3.1 Master Plan (MP) (Planning Act-section 6)

■ Plans showing planning proposals for various designated usages -
town areas, central area, other parts of island, industrial, residential,
park & recreational etc

■ MP is subject to review regularly at 5 year intervals

■ Details of MP is further explained by Development Guide Plans

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3.2 Amendment To Master Plan (section 8)

A development proposal may require use of land contrary
to the prevailing Master Plan
■ CA can recommend approval to Minister if:
- proposal does not interfere with Government
development plans
- if the amendment is in the greater public interest
■ If approval granted, the Master Plan will be altered
■ If not granted, proposal will be refused and Master Plan
will not be amended

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3.3 Development Charge (section 38)
■ If development involves the alteration of Master Plan and
the project will be benefited with additional value due to
this change, then a Development Charge can be imposed.
Such as an increase in permissible floor area, change of use
for higher commercial value etc.

■ The amount of charge is determined by the CA in

accordance with provisions under the Planning Act

■ Master Plan will only be amended after the development

charge is paid

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3.4 Development of Land (section 3)

■ No person shall develop any land in Singapore without
permission of CA
■ The word “Develop” means
- Carry out building, engineering, mining & other
operations in, on, over and under land
- Making any material change in the use of building
and land
Example: using an existing Bungalow for use as
temple/church constitutes a material change in use

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3.4.1 Exclusions for requirement of planning permission:
The following works do not require permission from CA:
1. Maintenance & improvement
2. Enclosing the balcony
3. Painting of exterior
4. Erection of builder’s sheds, hoarding and other structures
incidental to the construction work
5. Construction of gates, boundary walls
6. Minor additional works to building
7. Other announced exemptions from times to times

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3.5 Application for Planning Permission (section 13)
■ Submission can be done through Electronic Development
Application (EDA)
■ Application will be assessed and evaluated against
Government planning considerations, policies and
requirements
■ Two approaches of Planning Application:
- Outline planning application
- Application for written permission
Note: URA introduced Multiple Development Option (MDO) in
2003 allowing applicant to test out different proposals
simultaneously for the same site
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3.5.1 Outline planning application (section 18)
- It serves as a quick check/indication as to whether
the applicant is likely to succeed in obtaining his/her
planning permission
- Only consider broad issues of land use, intensity,
type, form and height of development on the
in-principle basis
- Only conceptual layout needed, detailed plans are
not required
- If acceptable, outline permission will be granted as
in-principle approval for the proposed development

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3.5.2 Application for Written Permission (section 13, 14)
- It constitutes a formal application with submission details
addressing to Competent Authority, normally the
CEO/Chief Planner of URA
- Submission needs to refer to relevant Govt. Technical
Departments and obtain clearances
- Site inspection by parties involved
- Provisional permission can be issued first, subject to further
compliances by the applicant
- Written permission will be issued when all requirements
are complied with by the applicant

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Overviewof PlanningApplication:

Route:
Applicationfor Applicationfor Written
OR
Outline Permission Permission

Outlinepermission
Disapproval
granted

URA’s DCD&Consultations,
Directive &Compliances

Provisional Permission

Further Compliances
Resubmission, Dev’t charge ?

Formal Written
Permission

Simplified F ramework of Submission for Planning Permission

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Recommend to Read:
1. Lecture note 1
2. Ref reading :Planning Act
Website Access for Gov. Acts: www.agc.gov.sg
look for Singapore statutes online

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 CV4011/4201-Project Planning & Management

Lecture 4: Introduction & discussion on

Building Control Act

Instructor:
Dr Wong Wai Fan
(PE, Adjudicator)

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Building Plan stage:
After Obtaining Written/Provisional Permission,
developer & his consultants can proceed to do the following:
- Architects prepare detailed Architectural plans
- Engineers do design and structural drawings
- Accredited Checker (AC) to evaluate & analyse structural
design and submit certificate of structural adequacy
- Submit the above documents for the Building Plan
approval (BP approval)-CORENET e-submission
- The above activities are Governed by Building Control Act
(1999 Edn)

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4.0 Building Control Act (6 parts, 53 sections)

■ Provides the law relating to buildings works & its
required permissions in the following major areas:
- Approval of building plans
- Granting permit to commence building works
- Appointment and control of Accredited Checkers
- Control over functions of Qualified Persons
- Control over functions of site supervisors
- Permit for the Occupation of buildings
- Control and action over dangerous buildings
- Inspection of buildings

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4.1 Definition of building

- hut, shed or roofed enclosure
- wall, gate fencing, platform, pillar
- dock, wharf, pier, jetty
- culvert, bridges, underpass, tunnel
- sewage treatment plant, sewer, drain, pool
- other structures as deemed fit

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4.2 Implementation of BC Act
■ Implementation of building control functions is placed
under the Building and Construction Authority (BCA)
established under the BC Act (1999)
■ Powers and responsibility conferred on Commissioner of
Building Control (CBC), appointed by minister, is normally
assumed by CEO or Head of building control division of
BCA

Control of building works

No person shall commence, carry out or authorize the
commencement of building works unless:
- CBC has approved the relevant plans and
- There is in force a permit granted by CBC to carry out
building works
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Application for approval of plans of building works (sect 5)
- Application made by developer to CBC

- Architect submits architectural building plans for

the application

- Engineer submits structural calculations and

structural plans (includes piling plan)

- AC submits structural evaluation report with

certificate of adequacy

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BUILDING AND STRUCTURAL PLANS APPROVAL

QP submits plans to Building and Construction Authority (BCA)

Commissioner of Building Control (CBC) QP Consults

Dep’ts

Building Engg Building Plan Mgt

Checks Checks

Structural plans Building Plans

AC’s Report

Obtain BP
Clearances from Dep’ts

Approval of Structural Plan

Approval of
Building Plans

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4.4 Permit to commence works (section 6)
For issuance of permit, the followings are required:
- Building plans must be submitted
- Structural plans must be cleared by CBC
- Owner must appoint:
A QP for design and a QP for supervision
(A QP is allowed to double up as both design & supervision QP)
A builder
A site supervisor/resident engineer nominated usually by
QP

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4.4 Permit to commence work (continue)
A notification signed by owner, QP and Builder indicating the
intended date (7 days in advance) of commencement of works.

Permit will lapse if any of the 3 key parties (Owner, QP and Builder)
cease to be in force

CBC can also revoke the permit or stop work if :

- works after commenced, suspended for more than 3
months, or
- building works are not carried out in proper manner, such as
there are risk of collapse, risk to injury of any person or damage to
any property, risk to adjoining building /street etc

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4.5 Qualified Person (section 9)
- a registered Architect
- a registered PE with a practicing certificate
for taking responsibility for all matters connected with the works,
either design and/or supervision

4.5.1 Duties of a QP (section 9):

- To design and/or supervise
- Supervise and inspect works to ensure:
compliance with approved plans and regulations
- Supply to site supervisor and builder a copy of all approved plans
- Notify CBC any contravention of BC Act or Code of professional conduct and
ethics
- Keep and maintain site records as required
- Notify CBC if work has been suspended for more than 3 months

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4.5.2 Termination of QP (section 8 & 9)
If appointment of QP is terminated for any reason:
- The QP must notify builder and CBC within 14 days of ceasing
to be a QP;
- Builder stops work ;
- Project owner to notify CBC on appointment of new QP within
7 days;
- Note that Code of Professional conduct and ethics requires
the PE who is taking over as new QP to ensure that the
terminated QP shall be discharged satisfactorily **

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4.6 Occupation of Buildings (section 12)
■ On completion of building works, owner may apply to CBC for;
- Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) ; or
- Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC),
■ The building must not be occupied or used before the issuance of
TOP or CSC
■ TOP can be issued for building works which is Not Fully Complete
but in the opinion of the CBC, non-completion is not detrimental to
the safety and well-being of any occupant
■ CSC will only be issued if building work is Complete and statutory
requirements of the development are complied and issued with
clearances

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4.7 Accredited Checkers (AC) (Sect 13)
■ Registered and authorized by CBC for:
- Evaluate, analyze and review the structural design to
determine the adequacy of structural proposal
- Verify the key structural elements are in order and according to
layout plan

■ An AC must be:
- A person of good character and ability with sufficient years
of practical experience
- Must not have any professional or financial interest in the
particular building project**
- For project more than certain sum, say S$10m, an Accredited
Checking Organization must perform the AC’s role
- AC’s practice is subject to yearly renewal

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4.8 Dangerous Buildings (section 23 & 24)
Any building that is:
- In such a Condition; or
- Being used to carry such loads (Over Loading)
When it is to be or likely to be dangerous can be
declared as a Dangerous Building by CBC

When danger arises from building condition, CBC can

order:
1. Owner to carry out such inspection
2. To execute necessary works to obviate danger
3. To demolish the building or part thereof

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4.8 Dangerous Building (continue)
Danger arises from overloading, CBC can:
- Require owner to restrict the use until the building is
made structurally adequate for the loading envisaged

Under Emergency case, CBC may take steps for:

- Closure of building
- Strengthening the building
- Demolition of the building and
CBC can recover all expenses from owner

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4.9 Building Inspection (section 28)
BC Act requires periodic inspection for buildings other than
detached houses, semi-D, terraced or linked houses.
■ Residential buildings:
- 10 years after the issuance of CSC and thereafter
at intervals of not less than 10 years

■ Other buildings:
- 5 years after the issuance of CSC and thereafter at
intervals of not less than 5 years
- The inspection to be carried out by a registered
structural PE
- The PE for inspection must not have any
professional or financial interest in the building**

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- The PE for inspection must not have any professional
or financial interest in the building**

- Professional interest

- Financial interest

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4.10 Some Recent Changes in BC Act provisions (ref: Pt 1 Lecture
note):

-Penalty has been generally raised for non-compliance of

the provisions of the Act.

-Section 6 (3) now allows different QP for design and

supervision works separately (e.g. in D & B projects, one QP
can do the design and another QP does the construction
supervision).

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4.11 Current Industry Trend
- Construction Professionals in the industry to
shoulder more responsibility.
- PE’s continuing education & updating, PDUs.
- Applicant for PE registration will be required to sit
and pass fundamental examination.

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1. Suggested Reading: lecture note 1 (complete)

2. Ref Reading: Building Control Act: Relevant Sects
3. Next lecture: Construction Management-Overview

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