URA visit on 29th march 2010

“Meet the planner” session

In our URA visit, we had our questions answered and our understanding on the Singapore urban planning deepened.
Before the URA visit, we were advised to come up with numerous questions that we felt we had to clarify in order to understand the complex urban planning of Singapore.

These are some of the questions we had and the answers we got from the URA.

-How does reclaimed land affect the number and height of the buildings that are built on it?

From what we have found out, we believe that reclaimed land does not seem to have any effects that could affect the number and height of the buildings that are situated on it. However, there are suggestions to enforce stricter building requirements for sky scrapers that built on reclaimed land and strengthening of the reclaimed soil as it will be a potential danger if there is an earthquake. Almost twenty percent of Singapore’s surface area is reclaimed land. Scores of buildings that include houses, factories and hotels are located there. In the event of an earthquake, buildings will be shaken up more violently as compared to those on non-reclaimed land, which is solid and will not be liquefied by the shake.

-What are the height restrictions for buildings that are built near the airport?

Height restriction laws are always applied for the surroundings of airports, because too tall structures of any kind are always a danger for flight safety. Often red and white paint and flight safety lamps have to be installed on high structures (taller than 100m) far away from airports.

Zhou Bo