APPROVALS FOR WORKS
The clarification also said URA and BCA ensured that all their requisite approvals were obtained for the works carried out at 26 Ridout Road.
For state properties tenanted out by SLA, URA’s approval is only required for works that affect conserved buildings or monuments, or those that exceed 10 per cent of the existing gross floor area of the property.
“To streamline the planning application process for works carried out on these properties, URA and SLA have in place a set of pre-authorised works that do not require URA’s approval and only require SLA’s in-principle agreement.
“SLA’s in-principle agreement must be obtained on the proposed works before they can be carried out on the tenanted property. URA issued circulars in 2015 and 2017 to inform the industry about this streamlined process,” said Factually.
Tenants must still obtain clearance from relevant technical agencies, such as BCA, where necessary. One category of works that does not require BCA’s approval is “insignificant building works” as prescribed under the Building Control Regulations 2003.
The onus is also on the qualified person engaged by the tenant or SLA to obtain the requisite approvals from relevant agencies prior to carrying out the proposed works.
A qualified person is an individual who is registered as an architect with the Board of Architects or a professional engineer with the Professional Engineers Board and has a valid practising certificate.
Factually said SLA’s in-principle agreement was obtained for earthworks carried out within the property by the tenant since 2024. BCA’s approval was also obtained.
The qualified person had sought approval from URA, but URA said that its approval was not required.
For the swimming pool installed by the tenant in 2018, URA’s approval was also not required since the pool installation was external to and did not affect the conserved building.
“The fact that URA’s approval was not required had already been addressed in the July 2023 Review of the Rentals of State Properties at No 26 and No 31 Ridout Road.”
BCA’s approval was not required since the pool installation was considered “insignificant building works” under the Building Control Regulations. This was because the excavation and earth retaining structure works did not exceed a height of 1.5m, Factually added.
SLA, as the landlord, had also carried out structural works.
This comprised repairs to timber floor beams and joists at the main building and timber beams at a linkway in 2018; replacement of damaged timber members in 2024; and restoration and replacement of existing doors and windows in 2024/2025.
For these structural works, all relevant approvals from URA and BCA were obtained.
SLA bore the costs of the structural works as part of its obligations as landlord, to ensure that the rented property is in good condition for safe occupancy and to protect the property’s heritage value, in line with the relevant conservation and restoration guidelines.
Factually said SLA’s obligation in this regard had been addressed in the review report and during the parliamentary sitting on Jul 3, 2023.
It also said no public funds were used to pay for the earthworks that have been carried out at the property since 2024.
“The tenant at 26 Ridout Road bore the full costs of the earthworks conducted since 2024, as well as the other improvement works carried out by the tenant. No public funds were used to finance these works.”
Factually said upholding a system of governance with high standards of integrity is an “ongoing, collective effort”.
“We urge the public to be discerning, especially of articles from TOC which have previously made unsubstantiated allegations and omitted publicly available facts. Such actions undermine our public institutions.”
Twenty Two Thirty added the correction notice to its YouTube video on Tuesday night. As of 10pm on Tuesday, TOC has not.
