Refinements to the New Process

CORENET X undergoes refinement from time to time based on observations and learning points from ongoing pilot projects. Reviews are conducted to address industry concerns.
Here are the list of reviews and refinements completed:



  1. The Design Advisory Panel (DAP) Stage 1 and 2 review process will be carried out prior to the Design Gateway (DG) and Construction Gateway (CG) submission respectively. This would be akin to a pre-submission consultation. It is meant to facilitate the DG and CG clearance process and reduce abortive work for consultants and agencies.
  2. As per today’s practice, the Applicant is to inform URA by way of email, at least 4 weeks (20 working days) in advance, on the submission date of the design proposal, to secure the availability of the various DAP members for the DAP session. The DAP session will take place approximately 3 to 4 weeks (15 to 20 working days) after the complete set of DAP materials is submitted, and the minutes of the DAP Session will generally be issued approximately 2 weeks (10 working days) after the DAP session.
    • Should the DAP find that the design proposal requires many changes, the Applicant would be advised to resubmit the proposal for a second DAP session, following the process stated in Point 2. This second DAP session would similarly be carried out prior to the DG or CG submission. The number of pre-submission DAP sessions will generally be limited to two.
    • Should the DAP deem the design proposal to be acceptable or require only minor revisions, the Applicant would be advised to proceed with the DG or CG submission. The Applicant is to inform URA by way of email, at least 4 weeks in advance, on the date of the formal submission, to secure the availability of the various DAP members for a potential subsequent DAP session. Following the formal submission, URA will advise if a subsequent DAP session is indeed needed.
      • If so, the DG or CG process will be extended from 20 working days to 30 working days to accommodate the additional DAP session.
      • If a second DAP session is not required, the DG or CG process will remain at 20 working days.

Under today’s process, external works are required to different agencies as part of overall project submission to agencies at their respective DC and BP processes. Under CORENET X, LTA, NParks and PUB currently require the proposed building works of the projects (including its external works) to be submitted as a single submission. The intent of this is so that the proposed external works are coordinated with the main building works prior to submission and agencies could review them holistically. To guide the industry on the details required for external works, the agencies have worked together to align their regulatory objectives and requirements. Due care was taken to ensure that:

  1. There are no direct conflicts in the rules between the agencies.
  2. Various components of the road typology is holistically reviewed by the respective agencies within the same gateway.

Nonetheless, many industry practitioners have also raised concerns over potential project delay due to external works clearance. Hence LTA, PUB and NParks have conducted a review into this process. In cases where the external works may take longer than expected and hence affecting the overall project, agencies are agreed that full requirements for external works need not be cleared in CG. Instead, LTA, PUB and NParks have come together to agree that only the key interfacing details between the main development and external works need to be firmed up and cleared during CG.

The details of the external works may then be subsequently submitted to the relevant agencies as independent submission following the CG clearance. This delinking of the external works process from the main development process is meant to help mitigate the potential delays projected by many industry practitioners.

For more information on the External Works, please refer here.

 

Under the new Regulatory Approval for Building Works (RABW) framework, project teams are required to collaborate upfront and submit a set of coordinated BIM models across various disciplines. On this, industry has raised feedback that while over design is done upfront, detailed structural calculations takes time. It is challenging to complete and submit detailed structural design of the whole project in one attempt, especially for large projects that require Accredited Checker or Accredited Checking Organisation’s endorsement.

To address industry’s concern, detailed structural design and calculations for eligible projects are allowed to be submitted in a limited number of part ST submissions.
Eligible project that qualify for Part ST Submissions are defined as:

  1. Building Projects: Any project with a Gross Floor Area (GFA) > 40,000sqm is eligible for part ST submission if –
    1. The project consists of 5 or more blocks of building of at least 4 storeys high each; or
    2. The project consists of 3 or more blocks of building of at least 4 storeys high each, with common podium or basement.
  2. Infrastructure Projects:
    1. Infrastructure works that function like a building with length > 150m (e.g. MRT stations, transport nodes/ interchanges);
    2. Infrastructure works that are mostly engineering works with length > 400m (e.g. railway tunnels, viaducts, large scale drains and sewers)
For projects that are unable to meet the above criteria and would still wish to submit as part ST submissions, please pre-consult with agencies early.

During submissions at the Construction Gateway, the coordinated BIM model capturing the overall design of the project must be submitted in full, including architectural, M&E and structural BIM models, as well as supplementary documents as per required in the Code of Practice.

For eligible projects that qualify for Part ST Submissions, full coordinated structural BIM carcass model must be submitted in the 1st CG submission. Detailed structural submissions (ST), including detailed calculations, AC/ACO reports, etc, may be submitted in parts. Each part ST must be sizeable, adhering to the guidelines.

Similarly for PG, Part ST submissions may be allowed for eligible projects, allowing part of the works to commence progressively on site.

Should there be any project specific queries about this, Project teams may submit a pre-submission consultation with BCA or write in to CORENET X enquiry.

 


With more emphasis on upfront design and coordination, consultants will be allocating more resources to the earlier stage of their projects, as compared to the practice today. In order to redistribute the progress payment so that it is commensurate with the upfront efforts rendered, BCA has updated the payment milestones in the Annex C of the Standard Consultancy Agreement for public projects. Details on the new Payment Schedule can be found in the Circular released on 22 December 2023, 

The industry Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs), Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS, Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore (ACES) and Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES), would similarly adjust the payment schedules for private projects, taking reference from the payment milestones used for public sector projects.

Currently agencies’ letters issued to the project teams are digitally signed using Netrust Digital Signer. The current digitally signing approach involve encryption of the documents before it is digitally signed. To access the document, users will need to first decrypt the file using Netrust software. This has led to many inconvenience to other non-QP project members who may not be familiar with the Netrust software or access to it.

Going forward, the agencies have worked with Netrust to overcome this. Under CORENET X, Agencies’ letters issued will not be encrypted and are digitally signed with a PDF digital signature. This allows users to view the letters directly without the need for any extra step (eg: decryption).