More than 5,400 renovation projects cleared to resume

New applications to resume works can be approved within two days.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has cleared and approved over 5,400 renovation projects applications for suspended residential renovation projects, according to an announcement.

All new applications to resume works will be approved within two days if the submission is in order. BCA noted that there is no need to submit the renovation contract and photos of the suspended renovation works to simplify the process.

Upon approval, renovation contractors can immediately resume work with the construction workers who reside in private residential and HDB premises. These workers have completed a 28-day stay home notice during the circuit breaker period, and do not need to undergo a COVID-19 swab test prior to commencing work.

However, some contractors who have workers still residing in the dormitories will have to wait for the dormitories to be cleared by the Inter-Agency Task Force before the workers can be released for work.

BCA warned that there may be delays in the renovations works even after the approval, as there are contractors whose workers are in Malaysia and are unable to travel to Singapore, as well as contractors who are unable to secure certain materials due to supply chain disruptions.

Further, all construction workers are subjected to periodic COVID-19 testing after they start work. If there are positive cases detected through the tests, the affected worker(s) will have to stop work immediately, and his close contacts will all be quarantined.

BCA will be liaising with the contractors to arrange for these tests to be conducted.