Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on tender bids for Place of Worship sites

Oct 1, 2018

Mr Desmond Choo: To ask the Minister for National Development 

(a) what has been the trend of successful tender bids for religious sites; and

(b) what are the plans to intensify land use for such sites.

Answer:

Over the past ten years (2008-2017), seven Place of Worship (PW) sites were launched and successfully awarded.

In June 2012, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) relaxed the allowable Gross Plot Ratio (GPR) and storey height controls for PW developments. This has allowed for intensification of some PW sites, subject to local site conditions, and whether the proposed intensification would adversely affect surrounding uses.

In September 2018, MND announced the revised tender process for PW sites to ensure that only religious groups that actively contribute to the community and have a genuine need for worship space are allowed to bid. Under the revised framework, MND will also be releasing land for PW hubs, which can house multiple religious organisations belonging to the same religion, in a multi-storey development. Smaller religious organisations who find the standard PW sites too large for their own use can band together under one PW hub. Through co-location and sharing of facilities such as car parks, Singapore’s limited land resources will be better optimised.