Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan has said that he has asked the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to carry out a review of the policy for outdoor space in the country.

The URA is planning to address the issues in the policy for regulating and preventing developers of private and executive condominium (EC) housing to sell the space that is available to them for free. Under the current laws, the developers currently do not pay charges for outdoor roof terraces and outdoor ground floor space because they are not included in the gross floor area (GFA), which forms the basis for the calculation of the development charges.

Mr Khaw said that the URA is allowing the developers to build private or communal outdoor spaces enabling the creation of more enjoyable spaces for the residents. However, the developers now offer the entire space, including the outdoor space for sale when they sell the residential units to the people.

The minister has indicated that the now strict rules will be put in place to prevent developers of executive condominium (EC) projects from earning profits by selling the space on which they do not pay any development charge.