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URA seeks public views on restaurants, food shops and pubs located in non-HDB private shophouses near residential estate 
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 07:00 PM

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is gathering public feedback in its review of the planning guidelines for restaurants, food shops and pubs located in non-HDB private shophouses near residential estates.

An online survey has been launched to gather public feedback on various issues, including whether entertainment activities should be allowed in restaurants, the type of food preparation that should be allowed at food shops, and the type of entertainment activities that can be allowed in pubs given that these activities could affect neighbouring residents.

Existing Guidelines

Business operators who wish to set up restaurants, food shops or pubs in private shophouses near residential areas need to apply for a `change of use’ approval from URA. In addition, they need to comply with licensing controls of various agencies such as the National Environmental Agency (NEA) for restaurants and food shops, the Police Entertainment Licensing Unit (PELU) for pubs and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on traffic and vehicle parking requirements.

While restaurants, food shops and pubs can offer greater convenience to residents in the area and add to the buzz and vibrancy of the neighbourhood, these uses can also potentially create noise, smell, as well as traffic and parking issues.

Businesses, on the other hand, have been asking for more choices in business locations. They also want more flexibility in the activities allowed in these shophouses.

In assessing change of use applications, URA tries to balance the needs of residents who want such businesses located close to their homes for greater convenience; business operators who want more flexibility in the type of activities allowed in their business premises; and residents who prefer their neighbourhood to remain undisturbed.

Mitigating Measures

Generally, business operators have to confine their activities within their business premises to help minimise potential disamenity issues. They must also comply with NEA’s health and environmental hygiene requirements to minimise smell and fumes, and observe PELU’s restriction on operating hours for entertainment outlets. Despite these mitigating measures and licensing requirements, URA and the licensing agencies continue to receive some complaints.

Public Consultation

URA is reviewing the activities allowable in restaurants, food shops and pubs located in private shophouses. We are seeking public inputs on the following issues:

(a) Restaurants
Currently, ‘live’ music and performance is not allowed in restaurants at private shophouses near residential estates. This is to minimise possible disturbance to nearby residents. However, business operators have asked for some `live’ light entertainment, such as singing, piano and violin performances to be allowed to enhance the dining experience in their restaurants. Should such light entertainment be allowed in these restaurants?

(b) Food shops
Food shops are essentially shops with takeaway food counters that do not have dining facilities and hence, no restaurant type of cooking is allowed. However, to cater for the warming of food to keep them fresh and tasty, some form of cooking such as steaming, grilling and frying are allowed upon approval if such activities do not affect neighbouring residents. Businesses have, however, requested that such cooking to be automatically allowed in food shops without the need to seek approval from URA to save time and resources. Should URA accede to this request?

(c) Pubs
Currently, URA does not freely allow pubs, bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges and discotheques in private shophouses near residential areas as they can potentially affect residents in the area. However, as these entertainment outlets also offer visitors and local residents more entertainment options and add to the vibrancy of the area, we have allowed some along main roads on the fringe of residential areas.

Pubs are mainly drinking places. URA has received requests to allow some entertainment uses in pubs. Should URA agree to this? If so, whether URA should specify the type of entertainment activities such as “live” music and performances to be allowed.

We hope to hear the views of members of the public, business operators and people who live close to non-HDB private shophouses, on the above matters. For more details, please visit the URA’s website at http://spring.ura.gov.sg/dcd/eConsultation/index.cfm. The consultation starts on 1st September and ends on 30th September 2008.