RES exam question on Marketing & Advertising: Ahmad acts for Clara, who is buying a gazetted conservation shophouse in Boat Quay
Ahmad acts for Clara, who is buying a gazetted conservation shophouse in Boat Quay. The ground floor is approved for shop use and the upper floors for office use. Clara plans to open a restaurant on the ground floor and to rebuild the rear block with an extra storey. Which of the following statements is/are correct? (i) Since Boat Quay is a historic district, the whole building must be retained and restored, not only its facade. (ii) Since restaurants already trade along the quay, Clara needs no URA approval to turn the shop into a restaurant. (iii) Since the rear block is not part of the facade, Clara may rebuild it higher without conservation permission. (iv) Works to the building need URA's conservation permission and, where they are structural, BCA's building plan approval.
- A(i), (ii) and (iv) only
- B(ii) and (iii) only
- C(i), (iii) and (iv) only
- D(i) and (iv) only
Show answer & explanation
Answer
D. (i) and (iv) only
Explanation
Answer: (i) and (iv) only. In a historic district the whole building is conserved, and a change of use still needs URA's permission.(i) True. Boat Quay is one of URA's historic districts, where the entire building is to be retained and restored under the 3R principle.(iv) True. Alterations need URA's conservation permission, and structural works need BCA plan approval.Watch out: Neighbouring restaurants say nothing about this unit's approved use.Rule: In historic districts the entire building is retained and restored, and alterations need conservation permission. A change of use needs URA's permission even without works, and structural works need BCA plan approval.Source: RESPrep /learn/marketing-commercial-industrial-conservation; RESPrep /learn/planning-and-development-control-singapore; ura.gov.sg conservation guidelines, current at 1 Oct 2026
Why the other options are wrong
- (ii) False. Restaurants do trade nearby, but that does not change this unit's approved shop use. A change of use needs URA's permission even without building works.
- (iii) False. The rear block is part of the building that must be retained, so rebuilding it higher is not free of conservation control.
Study the concept behind this question: Marketing Commercial, Industrial & Conservation Properties
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