Building, Real Estate, Construction and Housing

Building construction refers to the erection of new buildings and additions or alterations to existing buildings, but excludes the erection of temporary structures, illegal building works or minor works which do not require planning approval.

Data on new buildings given planning and building plan approvals, notices of commencement and Temporary Occupation Permits (TOPs)/ Certificates of Statutory Completion (CSC) are compiled from the administrative records of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

For statistics on residential properties, landed properties refer to detached houses, semi-detached houses, terrace houses and non-landed properties refer to apartments and condominium housing.

BCA compiles data on construction material market prices using the average market prices of construction materials for the respective years. Statistics on contracts awarded and progress payments certified are collected through surveys conducted by BCA.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) was established on 1 February 1960 as the public housing authority of Singapore.

Between 1989 and 2024, HDB sold 244 land parcels (308 hectares) for private residential development and 49 land parcels (63 hectares) for commercial development. A total of 83 Executive Condominium sites (169 hectares) were sold during this period.

The Singapore Standard Classification of Type of Dwelling defines a dwelling as a building or part of a building used or intended to be used by one or more persons as living quarters. Each dwelling type has separate entrance(s) with direct access to a public road or pathway. A dwelling may be a residential building by itself or a unit in a residential building, or part of a non-residential building such as a shop or factory with space used as living quarters.

Building Commencement

Construction of a building project is deemed to have commenced when a permit to commence building works in respect of that building is issued by the Commissioner of Building Control.

Building Completion

A building project is deemed completed when the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) or Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) in respect of that building is issued by the Commissioner of Building Control. Completed properties are referred to as the existing stock.

Building Plan Approval

Refers to the approval granted by the Commissioner of Building Control in respect of building plans and specifications submitted in accordance with the prescribed building regulations in force.

Contracts Awarded

Refers to the full contract awarded to the main contractor by the developer or owner even though part or all of the works may be further sub-contracted to other contractors.

Business Park

Space for non-pollutive industries and businesses that engage in high-technology, research and development, high value-added and knowledge-intensive activities. Science parks where the primary activity is research and development are included in the Business Park category from 3rd Quarter 2002.

Industrial Space

Refers to space used or intended to be used for general industry, light industry, warehousing, storage or goods or foodstuff, freight and logistics operations, research and development activities or business park activities.

Multiple-User Factory

A building that is capable of being strata subdivided and thus could be used by multiple users; and is used or intended to be used for industrial purposes, comprising buildings or part of the buildings used for the manufacturing, altering, repairing, ornamenting, finishing, cleaning, washing, packing, canning, breaking-up or demolition of any article or its parts and the processing and treatment of minerals.

Prepared Industrial Land

JTC land that is made ready for lessees to develop their own industrial facilities. The land is normally provided with road access/ frontage, main storm drain, water and sewer mains at its perimeter.

Progress Payments Certified

Refers to the value of all construction works done and certified for progress payment. Where construction works are carried out by the developer or owner himself and the architect does not certify progress payments, the expenses incurred on the construction work are taken to be the progress payments certified.

Provisional Permission

Refers to the conditional approval granted by the Minister for National Development or the Competent Authority to develop any land subject to conditions in accordance with the development rules in force.

Single-User Factory

A building that is intended for use by a single occupier; and is used or intended to be used for industrial purposes, comprising buildings or part of the buildings used for the manufacturing, altering, repairing, ornamenting, finishing, cleaning, washing, packing, canning, breaking-up or demolition of any article or its parts and the processing and treatment of minerals. No strata division is allowed for this form of industrial development.

Warehouse

Covered space used or intended to be used predominantly as storage area for raw materials, semi-finished or finished goods. The statistics exclude space in shophouses used for storage.

Written Permission

Refers to the approval granted by the Minister for National Development or the Competent Authority to develop any land subject to conditions in accordance with the development rules in force.

Gross Floor Area

Refers to the covered floor space (whether within or outside a building and whether or not enclosed) measured between party walls, including thickness of external walls and any open area used for commercial or industrial purposes.

Nett Floor Area

Refers to all covered floor space available on an exclusive basis to occupiers in a building excluding common areas viz: staircases, lifts, common passageways and corridors.