LAND IN BUKIT TIMAH AND HILLVIEW (Rezoning)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for National Development, in rezoning the land in Bukit Timah and Hillview from light industrial to residential, (a) whether the Urban Redevelopment Authority has taken into consideration the difficulties faced by owners of strata title properties in the conversion and (b) whether the URA will consider the conversion of such properties to other commercial uses like shopping centres and office buildings that are more in character with a residential housing estate.

The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Lim Hng Kiang) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 118 sites with industries in the Bukit Timah and Hillview areas earmarked by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to be converted to residential use. Of these, only seven sites have buildings with strata titles, and they are all light industries. Buildings on three of these seven sites are owned by single owners.

As light industries do not sterilise adjoining land for residential development, URA has no plans to force them to convert to residential use. However, URA would like to encourage them to relocate by offering incentives. If these sites are converted to residential use within five years, they will enjoy the bonus plot ratio of 0.3 without having to pay development charge.

The Ministry of National Development will not allow the conversion of the industrial sites to commercial uses. Being in the midst of residential areas, it is not desirable to allow these industrial sites to convert to commercial use. Commercial uses are already allowed in areas such as the Anak Bukit Town Centre in Bukit Timah and in the Bukit Batok HDB estate.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen (Bukit Timah): Sir, does the Minister realise that some of these strata title buildings are relatively new? In fact, some of them are less than 10 years old. And to force them to demolish the building is a waste of money.

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Sir, the answer is very clear. The URA is not forcing them to demolish or convert to residential use. Being light industrial buildings, they are allowed to co-exist with residential use. We would, of course, like them to convert to residential use and we offer incentives for them to be changed to residential use. But if these owners do not wish to convert their buildings to residential use, URA has no plans to acquire or to force them to demolish. Let it be clear that these buildings are not intended to be demolished or acquired. There are incentives for them to change to residential use. If they do not want to change, they are allowed to remain as light industrial uses.

Dr Wang Kai Yuen: Does the Minister realise that these owners of strata title buildings are small owners? And it is very difficult for them to come together as a group to decide how to convert the buildings to residential use. Would the URA consider holding a dialogue session with this group of owners to address their concern and resolve the issue?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Mr Speaker, Sir, the package of incentives that URA announced is intended for the majority of the 118 sites. It is not intended to be targeted at the small owners of strata title properties. We realise that the small owners are not likely to get together and take advantage of these incentives. The incentive package is largely tailored to the single owner of general and hazardous industries. For this light industry, we are prepared to let them remain, as they are strata title properties in the light industrial buildings and they cause no disamenity to the surrounding areas.