Planning, development and restrictions on holding land: RES practice questions

URA distinguishes ancillary display areas from showrooms. An ancillary display area is for products related to the predominant industrial operations. Its conditions restrict access to corporate customers for corporate or demonstration purposes, prohibit on-site sales, and prohibit strata subdivision or subleasing of the area. Only A satisfies all the stated operating conditions. Removing sales does not permit general public access; corporate-only access does not permit on-site sales; and a compliant demonstration activity does not make subletting permissible. This answers the use-interpretation issue, not every technical approval requirement.

URA's standard minimum site area for a condominium is 4,000 sq m. For this minimum-area test, land required to be set aside for vesting to the State, including road reserve, is excluded. Net site area is therefore 4,250 − 400 = 3,850 sq m, leaving a shortfall of 4,000 − 3,850 = 150 sq m. The 1,000 sq m minimum relates to flats, not condominiums. This question concerns the minimum site-area test, not the separate basis used for any gross plot ratio calculation.

JTC's replacement-anchor guidance imposes two separate area tests: the proposed anchor tenant or tenants must continue to occupy at least 70% of the facility's GFA, and where there is more than one anchor tenant, each must occupy at least 1,000 sqm. The proposed areas total 6,500 + 500 = 7,000 sqm, which is 70% of 10,000 sqm. However, the smaller proposed anchor occupies only 500 sqm and fails the individual minimum. The proposal therefore does not meet both area requirements. This conclusion concerns area compliance only; it does not imply that an area-compliant arrangement automatically passes JTC's other assessment criteria.

ACRA distinguishes an ordinary partnership, which is not a separate legal entity, from an LLP, which is. Its LLP guidance expressly states that an LLP can buy and own property. Accordingly, the LLP satisfies the stated separate-entity requirement, whereas an ordinary partnership must not be treated as a distinct property-owning person merely because its business is registered. This does not mean that partners cannot acquire property for partnership purposes; the appropriate ownership arrangements must be distinguished from ownership by a separate entity. Separate personality also does not override restrictions applicable to a particular property acquisition.

Section 3(1)(c) prohibits a foreign person from purchasing or acquiring residential property or an estate or interest in it except by way of a mortgage, charge or reconveyance. The confirmed security interest falls within the express mortgage wording. That is a distinction about the mode of acquisition, not an exemption restricted to citizen lenders. Nor does it confer unlimited permission for a later acquisition by purchase. Other laws and the separate consequences of enforcement are outside the question; the answer addresses only the stated genuine mortgage and this provision.