Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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SINGAPORE (Nov 27): Fancy a workout in an industrial building? Gyms, among other businesses, will be allowed in outlying industrial estates as the government revises rules to better meet the needs of industrial users.

The changes, which took effect from Monday, apply to industrial buildings in areas such as Sungei Kadut, Kranji, Tuas and Woodlands, according to a circular from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

Besides gyms, clinics, banks and minimarts will also be allowed in these buildings.

Commercial use will be limited to a size of 200 sq m or 10% of the total proposed gross floor area in each building, whichever is lower.

Also, the new businesses have to be located on the first floor and will be levied commercial "A" rates.

The use of showrooms, which are already allowed in industrial developments but only for products not typically transacted over the counter and that are predominantly delivered and installed offsite, has also been extended.

Under the revised guidelines, URA will consider showroom proposals for other product categories after the building has obtained the temporary occupation permit and when the potential occupier or business operator is known.

Businesses that provide telecommunications infrastructure or develop software, and companies that engage in production services that require technical facilities like studios, will continue to be allowed in industrial buildings.

But companies that use software to conduct business electronically, for example in marketing and consultancy work, and those with non-core media activities such as marketing and distribution of digital content, will now be regarded as commercial users and have to locate their activities in commercial premises.

In another change, canteens in industrial developments can now serve workers not only in the same building but also the public.

 

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