12/07/2011

Technical Requirements on Greenery Provisions within

Premises
Tree Planting Requirements
Plan Submission Requirements

4.1
4.1.1

Technical Requirements on Greenery Provision within Premises

Peripheral Tree Planting Verge
A 2.0m (minimum) wide peripheral tree planting verge is to be
provided along all sides of a development sites boundaries
except where it fronts a public road. In such situations, a green
buffer that corresponds to the road category shall be provided.
(Refer to Figure 4.1.1).
The exceptions to the provision of peripheral planting verge are:
a) Industrial and warehouse developments;
b) Landed housing developments; or
c) Areas with urban design controls.

Figure 4.1.1
Green Buffers & 2.0m Peripheral Tree Planting Verges Requirements
within a Premises (Diagrammatic Plan view)

Common Boundary

2.0m Peripheral
Tree Planting
Verge

Common
Boundary

Common
Boundary

Building

2.0m Peripheral
Tree Planting
Verge

2.0m Peripheral
Tree Planting
Verge

Building Set Back Line

Physical Buffer

Road Reserve Line

Access
Road

3.0m or 5.0m
Green Buffer
Public Road

12/07/2011

4.1.2

The 2.0m wide tree planting verge should generally be flat (1:40).
If site situation does not permit, the proposed slope should not be
steeper than 1:2.5. (Refer to Figure 4.1.2)

4.1.3

Green Buffer
For the sides of the development boundaries that front a public
road, the width of the green buffer, a segment within the
road buffer, shall be provided in accordance with the category
of road. The classification of the road category is available from
LTA through the purchase of the Road Interpretation Plan (RIP).
(Refer to Figure 4.1.3 on Green Buffer Requirements Along Roads)
The exceptions to the provision of the green buffer are:
1. When there are urban design requirements allowing the
buildings to abut the road reserve line or site boundaries
2. The boundary of a landed housing development that
fronts a category 5 road.
Generally, green buffers should be flat (1:40). If site situation does
not permit, the proposed slope should not be steeper than 1:2.5.
(Refer to Figure 4.1.2)
Figure 4.1.2
Gradient of Green Buffers and Tree Planting Verges

Boundary Line/
Road Reserve Line

Gradient not steeper

than 1:2.5

Width of Green Buffer/Peripheral Planting Verge

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Figure 4.1.3
Green Buffer Requirements for Development Boundaries Abutting Roads
Classification of road
based on Road
Interpretation Plan
Category 1

Category 2

Category 3

Category 4 5

Proposed Use / Development

Green Buffer

Residential / Educational

5.0m

Commercial / Industrial / Institutional /

Multi-storey carpark / Place of worship

5.0m

Residential / Educational

5.0m

Commercial / Industrial / Institutional /

Multi-storey carpark / Place of worship

3.0m

Residential/ Educational

3.0m

Commercial / Industrial /Institutional/ Place

of worship

3.0m

Multi-storey carpark
Residential / Educational

3.0m

Commercial / Industrial / Institutional /

Place of worship

3.0m

& Slip Roads

Multi-storey carpark

4.1.4

Developments Bordering Drainage Reserves

For developments that border drainage reserves, the
peripheral tree planting verge or green buffer shall be
provided after the drainage reserve line.
Where a drainage reserve is not required to be vested to the
State, the peripheral tree planting verge or green buffer may
be provided above the drainage reserve (after the road
reserve line), subjected to a provision of minimum 2.0m soil
depth as shown in Figure 4.1.4.

12/07/2011

Figure 4.1.4
Developments Bordering Drainage Reserves
(Diagrammatic Sectional View)

Road Reserve Line/

Boundary Line

Drainage Reserve

Building

3.0m Green Buffer

Not to scale
2.0m
Retaining/Boundary Wall

12/07/2011

4.1.5

Retaining/Boundary Wall along Green Buffers and Peripheral

Planting Verges
a. The width of green buffers and 2.0m wide peripheral tree
planting verges should exclude boundary/retaining wall.
(Refer to Figure 4.1.5)
b. Footing of the wall should be recessed at least 2.0m below
the proposed ground level if it encroaches more than 0.5m
into a planting verge.

Figure 4.1.5
Retaining/Boundary Wall Abutting Green Buffer and Peripheral Tree Planting
Verges (Diagrammatic Sectional View)
A. Boundary Wall Abutting Green Buffer

Road Reserve Line/

Boundary Line

Building
Green Buffer

Boundary Wall
(height to comply with URAs requirements)

Not to scale
2.0m Recess

Roadside Drain

12/07/2011

>0.5m Encroachment

B. Retaining Wall abutting Green Buffer

Building
Green Buffer

Road Reserve Line/

Boundary Line

Not to scale

Retaining Wall
(height to comply with URAs requirements)

Roadside Drain

C. Retaining/Boundary Wall abutting Peripheral Boundary

Boundary Line

2.0m wide clear

Peripheral Planting Verge
Neighbouring Lot

Building

Retaining/Boundary Wall
(height to comply with URAs requirements)

Not to scale
2.0m Recess

> 0.5m Encroachment

4.1.6

Submerged Basement Structure Within Green Buffer and Peripheral

Tree Planting Verges
The submerged basement structures which encroach into green
buffers/peripheral tree planting verges should be at least 2.0m or
more below the ground level. Please refer to Figure 4.1.6 Submerged Basement Structure Within Green Buffers/Peripheral
Tree Planting Verges.

12/07/2011

Figure 4.1.6
Submerged Basement Structure within Green Buffers/Peripheral
Tree Planting Verges
Road Buffer
Road Reserve Line

Green Buffer/
Peripheral Tree Planting Verge

2.0m (min)
Basement

Not to scale

4.1.7

Note:
1.Basement structure
abutting the road
reserve should be at
least 2.0m below ground
level.
2.Headroom clearance
for basement must be
taken into consideration
in the design of the
development and not
be used as a reason for
non-compliance.

Allowable Minor Ancillary Structures Within

Green Buffers and Peripheral Tree Planting
Verges (Prescriptive Guidelines)
a.

b.

c.

12/07/2011

In general, green buffers and peripheral

tree planting verges should be free from
any encroachment, except for allowable
minor ancillary structures as listed in
Figures 4.1.7a on Minor Ancillary Structures
allowed in green buffers & peripheral tree
planting verges.
Minor Ancillary Structures not allowed in
green buffers & peripheral planting verges
are listed in Figure 4.1.7b.
The total length of the structures
allowable within the green buffers must
not exceed 3.0m or 25% of the available
road frontage, whichever is greater.
(Refer to Figure 4.1.7c)

Note:
Applicants can choose
to either apply the
perspective guidelines
or the objective base
guidelines. For objective
base guidelines, please
refer to
https://www.nparks.gov.
sg/~/media/nparks-realcontent/partnerus/developersarchitects-andengineers/development
-plan-submissionrequirements/objectivebasedguidelines.ashx?la=en

Figure 4.1.7a
Minor Ancillary Structures Allowed Within Green Buffer & Peripheral Tree Planting Verges
(Prescriptive)
S/No.

Structures

Remarks

Flag poles

Lamp posts and landscape light

fittings

Guard house & bin point

OG boxes

Inspection chamber & minor sewer

lines

Water bulk meter

Industrial water pipes

Fire hydrant

Entrance gate/post

10

Metering compartment

11

Vehicular impact guard-rails

Minor sewer lines must be laid at least 2.0m

below ground level
Water pipes must be laid at least 2.0m
below ground level
-

Figure 4.1.7b
Minor Ancillary Structures Not Allowed Within Green Buffer & Peripheral Tree Planting
Verges
S/No.

12/07/2011

Structures

Fire engine hardstanding areas

Drain and access covers

Signboards

Remarks

Except for crossings running

perpendicular to planting
verge
-

Figure 4.1.7c
Guidelines for Ancillary Structures in Green Buffer (Diagrammatic Sectional View)

Building

Building

Meter
Compartment

Guardhouse
Bin Point

Guardhouse

Bin Point

Green
Buffer

Access
Road

Green
Buffer

Access
Road

a+b+c

Not to scale

4.1.8

Planting Verges beside Internal Driveways

a. For public building development, in addition to green buffer
and peripheral tree planting verges, a minimum 2.0m wide
tree planting verge is to be provided on at least one side of
the proposed internal driveway if the driveway does not
abut the green buffer or any of the peripheral tree planting
verges.
b. The 2.0m wide tree planting verge should generally be flat
(1:40). If site situation does not permit, the proposed slope
should not be steeper than 1:2.5.
c. This 2.0m wide tree planting verge should be free from
encroachment, above and below the ground level.
d. Basement structure below any planting verges must be
recessed at least 2.0m below ground level.

12/07/2011

4.1.9

Hedge Planting Around Proposed Bin Centres and Substations

(Only Applicable to Public Building Development) and Along
Perimeter Fence of Schools
a. A minimum 1.0m wide planting verge is to be provided for
planting of hedges around bin centres and substations of
public building development as illustrated in Figure 4.1.9
Hedge Planting Verge.
b. Hedges are required along the perimeter fence of schools.

Figure 4.1.9
Hedge planting verge

12/07/2011

4.1.10

12/07/2011

Planting Verges for Open Air Parking Area at Street Level

a.

A minimum 2.0m wide planting verge is to be provided

along a row of parking lots, if the parking area does not
abut the green buffer or any of the 2.0m wide peripheral
tree planting verges. For illustration, please refer to Figure
4.1.10.
(Tree planting verge is not required for lorry/bus parking lots
within car parking area for industrial developments.)

b.

A minimum 4.0m wide planting verge (centre divider) is to

be provided between two rows of parking lots as illustrated
in Figure 4.1.10.

c.

A minimum 4.0m wide planting verge is to be provided

between a building and parking lots as illustrated in Figure
4.1.10. The exceptions are industrial developments, where
a planting verge between a building and parking lots is not
required for parking lots that are meant for
loading/unloading purposes.

d.

The planting verges should generally be flat (1:40). If site

situation does not permit, the proposed slope should not
be steeper than 1:2.5.

e.

All planting verges should be free from encroachment,

above and below the ground level.

f.

Basement structure below any planting verges must be

recessed at least 2.0m below ground level.

g.

All car parking lots are to be fully laid with aeration slabs for
tree aeration. Each piece of slab should have 35% aeration
area with all the void areas turfed.

h.

For covered car parking lots, aeration slabs are not

required if at least three-quarters of each parking lots area
is under cover.

Figure 4.1.10
Tree planting provision for open air parking area at street level
Building

4.0m wide
planting verge

4.0m
wide
planting
verge

2.0m
wide
peripheral
planting
verge

Car parking lots

fully laid with
perforated slabs

3.0m 5.0m wide

green buffer

4.0m

12/07/2011

4.2

12/07/2011

Tree Planting Requirements

a.

All green buffers and planting verges are to be

planted with trees. Other plants can be used
to supplement, but not substitute tree planting.

b.

For government school and public building

development projects, the size and condition
of trees and palms to be planted should meet
the minimum standards as specified below:
I.

A sapling tree should :

i. have total overall height of at least
2.5m with clear trunk height 1.5m
(measured from ground level)
ii. have girth at least 0.1m
iii. be upright and in good form
iv. have terminal shoot

II.

A single stem palm should :

i. have total overall height 2.0m
(measured from ground level)
ii. be upright and in good form
iii. have terminal shoot

III.

A cluster palm should :

i. have total overall height 2.0m
(measured from ground level)
ii. be upright and in good form
iii. have a minimum of 4 suckers

IV.

V.

Specification of Hedge Planting:

Each stem of the hedge
planting should have a height of
1m and be planted at 0.5m
centre to centre.
A sapling tree/single stem palm
must be staked as and when
required. Stakes provided should
be:
i.

galvanised steel pipe or

treated wood of 25mm
diameter
ii. 1/3 buried underground,
with the stake to be
slightly lower than the
sapling
iii. positioned 200mm away
from the collar of the tree
iv. provided with PVC tubed
nylon string placed round
the trunk and tied firmly to
the stake.

VI.

12/07/2011

Tree collar protector should be

provided for all proposed
sapling trees/single stem palms.
The protector should be made
of a PVC tube of length 200mm,
diameter 75mm and thickness
2mm with a slit cut along the full
length of the tube

An example of staking

4.3

Plan Submission Requirements

A registered architect/professional engineer is required to
submit a completed NParks submission form, enclose the letter
of authorisation from the developer, and sign all layers of
drawing digitally.

4.3.1

12/07/2011

The plans should comprise:

a.Key and location plans of the development site (scale 1:
10,000 or 1 : 5,000) showing access to the site from the street or
road
b.Site plan (scale 1 : 500, 1 : 200 or 1 : 100)
c.Address, lot and/or plot number of the development site and
neighbouring lots
d.1st storey plan (scale 1: 500, 1: 200 or 1: 100)
e.Basement plan (scale 1: 500, 1: 200 or 1: 100)
f.Survey plan (survey done less than 2 years at the point of
application and endorsed by a qualified surveyor). Not
applicable for Alteration & Additions proposals.

4.3.2

General site information for greenery provision within premises

should be provided as shown in Table 4.3.2.

Table 4.3.2
General Site Information Required for Plan Submission
Site Plan

Cross Sectional
Drawing

(a)

Development boundary verged in red

Indicate

(b)

Proposed development layout

Indicate

(c)

Existing and proposed road reserve line verged

in red

Indicate

Indicate

(d)

Width of proposed road

Indicate

(e)

Category of existing and proposed roads

Indicate

(f)

Existing and proposed road sidetable

Indicate

(g)

Existing and proposed levels of the

development site

Indicate

Indicate

(h)

Basement line highlighted in brown dotted line

Indicate

(i)

Boundary/retaining wall to be highlighted in

orange

Indicate

(j)

Schematic engineering drawing with

dimensions of retaining/boundary wall and
foundation

Indicate
-

(k)

Fire engine access and fire hardstanding areas

Indicate

(l)

(only applicable if the development is within

the gazetted Tree Conservation Area or on
vacant land)
Species, girth and heights of existing trees within
the site boundary and on the neighbouring lot
up to 5m from the boundary
(Please refer to 3.3.3 in Conservation of
Trees/Plants).

Indicate

Existing roadside trees/cluster palms/shrubs

abutting the development boundary and up to
10m on both sides of the boundary are to be
indicated. (Please refer to 3.3.4 in Conservation
of Trees/Plants). Any changes on the status of
the existing trees approved at DC/BP stage of
Architects plan are to be reflected.

Indicate

(m)

12/07/2011

4.3.3

Planting Provision
Information required on planting provision should be provided as
shown in Table 4.3.3.
Table 4.3.3
Planting Provision within Premises
Site Plan &
First Storey
Plan

Cross
Sectional
Drawing

All proposed green buffer/planting verges

(whenever applicable) are to be coloured green
on the site plan and 1st storey plan.

Indicate

(b)

Widths of all proposed planting provisions

provided in (a) are to be indicated.

Indicate

Indicate

(c)

All slopes are to be shown on plan with standard

land surveying symbols. The gradients of all
proposed slopes are to be indicated.

Indicate

Indicate

Hedge planting (only applicable to public buildings

and school developments) are to be indicated on
plan with a wavy green line.

Indicate

Drawing of the perforated slab and calculation of

the aeration areas for car parking lots are to be
shown on plan at Building Plan Stage.

Site plan

Ancillary structures within the green buffer and

2.0m peripheral planting verges are to be reflected
with the height and width indicated.

Indicate

Indicate

(a)

(d)

(e)

(f)

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4.3.4 Planting Scheme based on Prescriptive Guidelines

a)Planting Scheme is to be submitted at Building Plan Stage and it is
only applicable to:
i. Public buildings
ii. Government schools
iii. Good class bungalows within a Tree Conservation Area or
vacant land
iv. Apartments within a Tree Conservation Area or on vacant
land
v. Condominium developments within a Tree Conservation
Area or on vacant land
vi. Cluster housing development within a Tree Conservation
Area or on vacant land
b)Information required is to be as shown in Table 4.3.4.
Table 4.3.4
Planting Scheme based on Prescriptive Guidelines
Layout Plan

(a)

Location and species of proposed and existing

trees are to be shown on plan.

Indicate

(b)

A legend for proposed trees is to be provided. (For

tree symbols, please use colours other than green,
red and yellow.)

Indicate

4.3.5 Planting Scheme based on Objective-based Guidelines

Table 4.3.5
Planting Scheme based on Objective-based Guidelines
Layout Plan

12/07/2011

(a)

Properly annotated Landscape Plan and the

justifications in line with the objectives are to be
submitted.

Indicate

(b)

Landscape Plan to include all the information as

stated in the objective-based guidelines.

Indicate

4.3.6

12/07/2011

Lodgement for Tree Planting Provision and Aeration Requirement

for Open Air Parking Area at Street Level
a.

Lodgement is applicable only for proposal which complies

with the tree planting provision and aeration requirements
of at grade car parks within the development boundary.
Please refer to the requirements for Tree Planting Provision
And Aeration Requirement For Open Air Parking Area at
Street Level in 4.1.10.

b.

Lodgement does not apply to proposals with noncompliance item(s).

c.

A copy of site plan showing the planting verges, parking

spaces, drawing of the perforated slab and calculation of
the aeration area of a slab must be submitted. Dimensions
such as planting verge width, gradients of planting verges,
size of a parking lot and width of driveways should be
clearly indicated on plans. The proposal must be similar to
that approved by the Competent Authority.

d.

Proposed tree planting locations are to be shown on plan.

(A list of recommended trees to be planted for carparks is
as listed in Table 4.3.6).

e.

The lodgement must be made on the NParks submission

form after obtaining approval from the Competent
Authority for the proposed development. All items of the
form must be duly completed and endorsed where
applicable by a qualified person. The qualified person must
endorse if there are amendments made on the lodgement
form and plans.

f.

Upon completion of the development, please submit CSC

lodgement to NParks.

Table 4.3.6
Recommended Trees for Planting at Carparks

Species

Approximate Height
When Mature (m)

Recommended
Spacing
(m)

Alstonia angustiloba (Pulai)

25

18

Dalbergia latifolia

15

12

Erythrophloeum guineense (Ordeal Tree)

30

12/18

Eugenia grandis (Jambu Laut)

25

12

Filicium decipiens (Fern Tree)

24

12

Hopea odorata

25

10

Khaya senegalensis (Senegal Khaya)

30

18

Michelia alba (White Chempaka)

22

12

Milletia Chempaka

22

18

10

Milletia atropurpurea (Purple Milletia)

30

18

11

Peltophorum pterocarpum (Yellow Flame)

20

12

12

Pterocarpus indicus (Angsana)

30

18

13

Samanea saman (Rain Tree)

25

18

14

Tabebuia rosea (Pink Poui)

18

12

15

Lagerstroemia speciosa (Rose of India)

12

12

16

Mimusops elengi (Bunga Tanjong)

12

12

17

Xanthostemon chrysanthus

12

18

Eugenia longifolia

12

12

19

Cratoxylon cochinchinense

12

20

Kopsia flavida (Penang Sloe)

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