Concentration of Trades in Shophouses along Geylang Road

Ms Diana Pang Li Yen asked the Minister for National Development (a) what Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) planning criteria govern the permitted uses and concentration of trades in shophouses along Geylang Road, including massage, Traditional Chinese Medicine, hair salons and pubs; and (b) whether URA will review and tighten such restrictions to manage the impact in buildings where structural limits to soundproofing have led to complaints of chronic disturbance.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The shophouses along Geylang Road are zoned Commercial and Hotel in the Master Plan, where shop uses, such as hair salons and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics, are permitted.

Geylang is designated as an exclusion area where new public entertainment uses, such as pubs, bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges and massage establishments, that require SPF licences are not permitted. This is to mitigate disturbances and safeguard the amenity of surrounding developments caused by these public entertainment uses.