REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS’ ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPOREBUILDING WORKS APPROVALS Comments
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that it is currently developing an AI chatbot to assist developers and contractors in complying with regulatory requirements. This was revealed by Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat at the mid-autumn lunch organized by the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) on September 17, where he was the guest of honor. This initiative is part of the government’s ongoing review of existing regulations and efforts to streamline procedures for approvals for road and building works. OKP Holdings secures new contract from LTA worth $92.9 mil, orderbook hits record of $735.2 millionChee mentioned that the AI chatbot is aimed at helping developers and contractors quickly verify the LTA regulations that will apply to their development proposals, eliminating the need to manually search for information online. He also noted that the chatbot would be able to provide tailored advice to industry professionals as they work on their proposals. The LTA will work with the industry through the Transport Infrastructure Collaboration Panel (TICP) to train and improve the chatbot, which was formed in 2021 to streamline processes, bolster industry capabilities, and create more pro-enterprise solutions. Its members include the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore, The Institution of Engineers, Singapore, the Singapore Institute of Architects, REDAS, and LTA. Another area that the LTA is targeting is the road layout submission process, which often results in non-compliance with guidelines. Chee noted that applicants typically take three rounds of submissions to obtain the necessary approvals, which is a time-consuming process. To address this, the LTA will release a set of road design templates in November, offering clear regulatory guidance upfront while still allowing developers to be creative in the design process. The AI chatbot and road design templates are part of the TICP’s efforts to streamline road approvals, including the process for private developers to hand over completed road infrastructure to the LTA. According to Chee, this streamlined process has reduced handover timeframes from eight months to just one month after the defect liability period. In addition, the LTA has also announced that companies planning to install solar panels near airports will no longer be required to obtain approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) from October 1. Currently, CAAS approval is required due to concerns about glare from solar panels affecting the visibility of pilots or air traffic controllers. This process can take up to two months and costs around $3,500 for a consultant assessment. However, technological advancements in solar photovoltaic technology have reduced the risk posed by glare, which is why CAAS approval will no longer be required. At the event, Tan Swee Yiow, the president of REDAS, called for more support for green financing from regulators and financial institutions. He noted that while developers are committed to supporting Singapore’s green landscape, the financial burden can be challenging, especially for existing buildings. Tan suggested that supporting measures such as tax reliefs, grants, incentives, and consumer buy-in could be introduced to incentivize green projects.
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