# Developers urged to create more family-friendly spaces, malls and homes; AC framework updated

- **Source:** EdgeProp Singapore
- **Published:** 2026-09-23T05:03:25.000Z
- **Author:** EdgeProp Singapore
- **Original:** https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/developers-urged-create-more-family-friendly-spaces-malls-and-homes-ac-framework-updated
- **Topics:** Commercial & Industrial

## Featured rationale

Stronger upstream structural checks may increase developer confidence in complex projects and reduce downstream design problems and rectification costs, while risk-calibrated rules preserve capacity for smaller developments.

## AI summary

From September 2028, Accredited Checkers and Accredited Checker Organisations handling larger, more complex projects must demonstrate recent relevant experience and a good track record.

## Original article

Real estate developers and mall owners in Singapore are being called on to provide more family-friendly spaces and amenities in their projects.

Support for marriage and parenthood in Singapore requires a whole-of-society approach, said Indranee Rajah, Second Minister for Finance and National Development, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

Speaking at the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (Redas) Mid-Autumn Lunch on Sept 23, she noted that the real estate sector — as developers, property owners and landlords, as well as employers — has a meaningful role to play in helping to reverse the downward trend for marriage and parenthood.

Read also: Govt reviewing GFA guidelines, looking to speed up clearances for start of works; eyes night-time economy

Developers have a significant say in how buildings are designed and what features and amenities are provided.

They could thus include intentional and inclusive spaces for families in their projects — whether it be more family-friendly common spaces, lactation rooms or facilities in commercial buildings, and spaces that cater to young children and elderly grandparents alike.

When it comes to malls, Indranee cited feedback from families seeking more common areas where parents can wait for children or seniors, as well as more family-friendly activities.

She urged mall owners to consider their properties as potential community hubs, with activities for singles and families, while encouraging their F&B tenants to adopt more family-friendly features and practices.

At the event, Redas president Tan Swee Yiow similarly highlighted the role developers can play.

Many of the association’s members build the homes that young families move into and the spaces around them, including playgrounds, gardens, communal decks and flexible multigenerational layouts.

"When we get these spaces right, we help families meet their aspirations, whatever shape that family takes," Tan said.

Read also: What's moving the market: Singapore's biggest property deals and hottest searches (Sept 11)

He also floated several ideas for consideration, while clarifying that they are not formal Redas positions.

"For larger developments, perhaps we could allocate a small percentage of units as larger, family-sized homes."

He also suggested exempting gross floor area (GFA) for household shelters so the space could be used to reintroduce helper’s rooms into floor plans, as well as providing more childcare facilities near homes and offices with similar GFA exemptions.

"It takes a village to raise a child. Government, employers, developers and society all have a part to play," Tan said. "We can help more Singaporeans start and grow the families they hope for."

Accredited Checker framework enhanced

Separately, Indranee announced at the event that the government will enhance the Accredited Checker (AC) framework to better support structural design checks.

This is especially for larger, more complex or higher-risk projects.

ACs and ACOs provide independent reviews of structural designs, to ensure the structural integrity of a building and the safety of designs early in the planning stage.

Read also: What's moving the market: Singapore's biggest property deals and hottest searches (Sept 4)

From September 2028, ACs and Accredited Checker Organisations (ACOs) who undertake larger and more complex projects will be required to demonstrate relevant recent checking and design experience, as well as a good track record.

Requirements for smaller and lower-risk projects will be calibrated according to the risks involved, so that individual ACs can continue to take on such projects.

These changes are intended to give developers greater confidence that complex projects are being checked by professionals and organisations with the expertise, personnel and resources required.

Besides, stronger checks upstream will help reduce downstream design issues and rectification costs, Indranee noted.

A two-year transition period will be provided before full implementation in September 2028, and contracts awarded before then will not be affected.

In addition, from 2028 onwards, the Building and Construction Authority will extend the registration and renewal validity for ACs, ACOs and Specialist ACs from 12 months to 36 months to reduce administrative burden.

The Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore has also developed a Value Articulation Framework for AC checking services.

This is meant to give developers and ACs or ACOs a common and transparent basis to discuss the checking approach and resources required for each project. It will help developers assess AC proposals more holistically, based on factors beyond fees alone.

As building works become more complex, it is essential for ACs and ACOs to be equipped with the technical capability, organisational resources and relevant experience to carry out robust and effective checks, Indranee said.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 发展商被敦促打造更多适合家庭的空间、商场与住宅；认可检查员（AC）框架已更新

项目或可划出部分单位作为更大的家庭型住宅；办公室与住家附近或将提供更多托儿设施

新加坡的房地产发展商与商场业主正被呼吁在其项目中提供更多适合家庭的空间与配套设施。

财政兼国家发展部第二部长、总理公署部长英兰妮·拉贾（Indranee Rajah）表示，新加坡对婚姻与生育的支持需要采取全社会方针。

她9月23日在新加坡房地产发展商协会（Redas）中秋午宴上致辞时指出，房地产行业——作为发展商、产业拥有者与业主，以及雇主——在帮助扭转婚姻与生育的下降趋势方面，可以发挥有意义的作用。

另请阅读：政府正检讨总楼面面积（GFA）指引，寻求加快开工审批；着眼夜间经济

发展商对于建筑物如何设计，以及提供哪些功能与配套，拥有重要的发言权。

因此，他们可以在项目中纳入有意设置、具包容性的家庭空间——无论是更多适合家庭的公共空间、商业建筑中的哺乳室或设施，还是同时兼顾幼童与年长祖父母的空间。

谈到商场时，英兰妮援引了家庭的反馈。这些家庭希望有更多公共区域，供父母等候孩子或年长者，并希望有更多适合家庭的活动。

她敦促商场业主将自身物业视为潜在的社区枢纽，为单身人士与家庭提供活动，同时鼓励其餐饮（F&B）租户采用更多适合家庭的设施与做法。

活动上，Redas会长陈瑞耀（Tan Swee Yiow）同样强调了发展商可以发挥的作用。

该协会的许多会员建造年轻家庭迁入的住宅及其周边空间，包括游乐场、花园、共用平台，以及灵活的多代同堂户型。

陈瑞耀说：“当我们把这些空间做好，就能帮助家庭实现他们的愿望，无论家庭以何种形态组成。”

另请阅读：什么在推动市场：新加坡最大物业交易与最热门搜索（9月11日）

他还提出若干想法供考虑，同时澄清这些并非Redas的正式立场。

“对于较大型的发展项目，或许我们可以划出一小部分单位，作为更大的家庭型住宅。”

他还建议豁免家庭庇护所的总楼面面积（GFA），以便利用该空间在平面图中重新引入女佣房，并在住家与办公室附近提供更多托儿设施，同时给予类似的GFA豁免。

“养育一个孩子，需要整个村子的力量。政府、雇主、发展商和社会都有各自的角色，”陈瑞耀说。“我们可以帮助更多新加坡人建立并壮大他们所期望的家庭。”

认可检查员框架得到加强

另外，英兰妮在活动上宣布，政府将加强认可检查员（AC）框架，以更好地支持结构设计检查。

这尤其针对规模更大、更复杂或风险更高的项目。

认可检查员（AC）与认可检查机构（ACO）对结构设计进行独立审查，以确保建筑物的结构完整性，并在规划阶段早期保障设计安全。

另请阅读：什么在推动市场：新加坡最大物业交易与最热门搜索（9月4日）

自2028年9月起，承接规模更大、更复杂项目的认可检查员（AC）及认可检查机构（ACO），将须证明具备近期相关的检查与设计经验，以及良好往绩。

针对规模较小、风险较低项目的要求，将按所涉风险进行调整，以便个人认可检查员可以继续承接此类项目。

这些调整旨在让发展商更有信心，确信复杂项目正由具备所需专业知识、人员与资源的专业人士和机构进行检查。

此外，英兰妮指出，上游更严格的检查将有助于减少下游的设计问题与整改成本。

在2028年9月全面实施之前将设两年过渡期，在此之前已批出的合约将不受影响。

此外，自2028年起，建设局（Building and Construction Authority）将把认可检查员（AC）、认可检查机构（ACO）及专科认可检查员（Specialist AC）的注册与续期有效期从12个月延长至36个月，以减轻行政负担。

新加坡咨询工程师协会（Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore）亦已为认可检查员检查服务制定了价值阐明框架（Value Articulation Framework）。

该框架旨在为发展商以及认可检查员（AC）或认可检查机构（ACO）提供一个共同且透明的基础，以讨论每个项目所需的检查方法与资源。这将帮助发展商更全面地评估认可检查员方案，所依据的因素不限于收费。

英兰妮表示，随着建筑工程日趋复杂，认可检查员（AC）与认可检查机构（ACO）必须具备技术能力、组织资源及相关经验，才能开展扎实而有效的检查。