Here's what analysts have to say about URA's new guidelines for landed homes

Will greater creativity bring higher home values?

Homeowners keen on renovating their landed properties will have more leeway to do so once the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s new envelope control guidelines take effect in May 2015.

Under the new guidelines, the allowable height for two- and three-storey landed homes have been reduced while the existing rules on attic profile, basement protrusion, third storey setback and floor-to-floor height will no longer apply.

Two-storey houses will have a maximum permissible height of 12m, while three-storey houses will have a maximum height of 15.5m.

The URA stated that homeowners can now vary floor to ceiling height to have a mix of spacious and compact spaces.

They can also design the attic without the sloping roof and the basement to have more protrusion above ground, which will let in more ventilation and light.

According to Desmond Sim, Head, CBRE Research, South East Asia, the new rules expands the design framework to allow more creativity in the design of landed housing in the future.

It allows architects more flexibility with their designs, instead of leaving them stuck with the cookie-cutter pitched roof landed housing that have characterised the landed precinct over the years.

“However, this new guideline does not allow intensifying of space. It merely allows better use of floor-to-ceiling heights as well as a more creative layering of space. The value of a landed property is still derived predominantly from the location, age, tenure and type of landed use. Undeniably, the design and layout will play a role in determining the price of a house, prices varying as design is subjective. Overall, it will raise the level of character in the landed property street scape in Singapore. It will challenge architects and incentivise landed property owners to exercise more creativity with bespoke designs,” he said.