Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment with members of the AfA at the kick-off meeting on 19 May1
2 Announced at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s Committee of Supply (COS) debate in March this year, the new FRD guidebook will complement PUB’s Code of Practice (COP) for coastal protection. It will contain guidelines to assist building owners and developers in enhancing the flood resilience of their developments, a toolkit of measures that landowners can consider adopting for their premises, and case studies of how such measures have been adopted.
3 Guidebooks for implementing flood-resilient developments have been published in other countries, including the United States, Netherlands, and Japan. The AfA will reference these publications when developing the FRD guidebook for Singapore’s context.
4 The 11-member AfA committee comprises a mix of architects, engineers and developers and is co-led by Mr Ong Tze-Ch’in, PUB’s Chief Executive, Ar Melvin HJ Tan, the Immediate Past President of Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), and Er Lim Peng Hong, President of Professional Engineers Board (PEB). The AfA will:
• Develop a user-centric guidebook with guidelines and good practices for the planning and designing of flood-resilient developments
• Provide advice on development-specific flood resilience measures applicable to Singapore’s built environment; and
• Recommend ways to promote adoption of flood-resilient design in Singapore’s developments.
5 Following its kick-off meeting on 19 May 2025, the AfA will commence work and wrap up its recommendations by the first quarter of 2026. Please refer to Annex for the list of members in the AfA.
6 Mr Ong Tze-Ch’in, PUB’s Chief Executive and co-lead of the AfA, said: “The AfA for the FRD guidebook marks a significant milestone in building a more flood-resilient Singapore amid rising sea levels. Through this co-creation process, we hope to bring together the unique expertise and experience of the AfA members. I’m confident that our collective effort will allow us to develop a relevant and effective guidebook that will help future-proof Singapore’s developments against flood risks.”
7 Ar Melvin HJ Tan, Immediate Past President of SIA added, “The world is changing and whilst all efforts are focused on creating a sustainable built environment, it is imperative that architects, consultants and developers alike take on a preventive mindset that allows developments to be designed sensitively and yet provides protection against the threat of floods. We envision the guidebook to provide suggestions on a mix of both hard and soft strategies that will not only be barrier-free, but also realise Singapore’s vision of a City in Nature.”
8 Er Lim Peng Hong, President of PEB commented, “Climate change and the spectre of rising seawater level will require us to plan carefully for the future. This will include exploring issues related to floods, proposing and co-delivering solutions to facilitate greater adoption of flood resilient measures. Such long-term planning will ensure that we are prepared for rising seawater level, and higher rainfall intensity.”
9 The FRD guidebook will be launched by mid-2026.
Footnote:
[1] From left to right: Dillon Lim, Sunita Dass, Lee Adam Harryman, Melvin HJ Tan (co-lead), Ong Tze-Ch’in (co-lead), SMS Koh Poh Koon, Lim Peng Hong (co-lead), Richard Lai, Jee Yi Yng, Nicholas Loh. (Not in the photo: Chan Ewe Jin, Lee Tuck Wai)
Annex: Members of the AfA committee
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