What you need to know about URA's new guidelines on shoebox shops

Average retail unit size should not be less than 50sqm.

In consultation with key industry players like Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) and Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), URA has worked out a set of guidelines for retail unit size and corridor width to address the above concerns and promote quality shopping developments. 

URA noted that it has received an increasing number of commercial and mixed-use development proposals that include a large number of small retail units (ranging 9 - 25sqm in size) with narrow corridors (less than 1.5m wide). 

In many of these cases, the proposed number of retail units is more than 10 times the existing number of units in the original development. This raises concerns about the impact of such developments on the surrounding areas in terms of car parking and traffic congestion. 

The guidelines are intended to safeguard a good mix of retail unit sizes and reasonable shoppers’ amenity, while giving the developers and architects flexibility in planning and designing their retail spaces.

According to the new guidelines, the average retail unit size should not be less than 50sqm.

Main arterial corridors are generally expected to have widths of at least 2.4m and 3.0m for single-loaded and double-loaded corridors respectively. This is to ensure there is sufficient space for the movement of pedestrians, stroller and wheelchair users, as well as window shoppers based on universal design principles.

Corridor widths proposed at the lower bound of the range may be considered only in areas where pedestrian flow is not expected to be high.

The guidelines on retail unit size and corridor width will apply to the retail component of all new erection proposals for full commercial, as well as mixed use developments.

The guidelines will also apply to Additions & Alterations proposals, for the extent of area under the Additions & Alterations works as long as the works involve an increase of more than 10% of the existing units and an increase of more than 10 units.

Where necessary, URA may also work with developers and architects to further refine their proposals beyond simply complying with the guidelines, taking into account the site context, specific planning intention for an area and the type of services needed in an area, when assessing proposals.

The guidelines will take effect from 27 Mar 2013 for all relevant applications.

Only formal development applications (excluding Outline Applications) submitted prior to 27 Mar 2013 which have already been granted Provisional Permission or which will result in a Provisional Permission will not be subject to the new retail guidelines.