This Act establishes the principal legal framework for the planning and improvement of Singapore and for the regulation of land development and subdivision. Its main objectives are to regulate the use and development of land through the Master Plan, provide for the designation and protection of conservation areas, and establish requirements for planning, conservation and subdivision permissions. The Act defines what constitutes development and subdivision, provides for periodic review and amendment of the Master Plan, and enables areas of special architectural, historic, traditional or aesthetic interest to be designated as conservation areas. It also establishes procedures for applications, provisional and outline permissions, conditions attached to permissions and appeals to the Minister. The Planning Act 1998 further establishes mechanisms to ensure compliance with planning controls and authorised development. It defines the duties of developers and qualified professionals involved in preparing and supervising development or conservation works, and empowers the competent authority to obtain information, enter land, issue enforcement notices and require remedial action where planning controls have been breached. The Act provides for criminal and civil penalties, injunctions and recovery of enforcement costs, while allowing unauthorised buildings or works to be altered, demolished or removed and unauthorised land uses to be discontinued. It also provides for public records of planning decisions, electronic applications and service of documents, subsidiary rules, and transitional arrangements preserving relevant permissions, approvals and proceedings arising under the previous planning legislation.
Singapour · 1998-01-01