A new Range-based Parking Provision Standards (RPPS) will be introduced from 1 February 2019, to replace the existing Car Parking Standards (CPS) and Range-based Car Parking Standards (RCPS) in line with Singapore’s move towards a car-lite society.
This was announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Friday (9 November), stating that 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.
LTA claims it has made significant improvements to our public transport system over the past years, saying, “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,” it noted.
LTA stated that 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.
To ensure new developments cater for motorcycle lots, LTA said that it 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.
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, which is to ensure that any deviation in parking provision will not cause disamenities to the area.
Meanwhile, as per current practice, the authority noted that the parking provided above the upper bound under the RPPS framework may be counted into the total allowable Gross Floor Area (GFA) quantum of the development in specified land uses. A summary of the RPPS, RCPS and CPS is appended for reference.
LTA stated that 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.
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, 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.
LTA noted that 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.
LTA then stressed that 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 applications received on or after 1 February 2019, and will not be applied retrospectively.
