# Fernvale Link site to be restored to original plan of a Chinese Temple

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2015-05-07T08:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/fernvale-link-site-to-be-restored-to-original-plan-of-a-chinese-temple
- **Topics:** Government & Policy, Investment & Capital Markets

## Featured rationale

Restoring the site’s original religious-use plan may reduce uncertainty for nearby residents, while relocating the columbarium pilot could limit local dis-amenity concerns.

## AI summary

The Government terminated EPL’s July 2014 Fernvale Link land award, refunded its land premium and charges, and will re-tender the site for a Chinese temple.

## Original article

The Ministry of National Development (MND) has signed a Mutual Termination Agreement with Eternal Pure Land Pte Ltd (EPL) to terminate the July 2014 award for the Place of Worship (PW) site at Fernvale Link.

The July 2014 award of the Fernvale Link PW site to EPL was the first time a PW site had been awarded to a company that is not affiliated to a religious organisation. However, as the Government’s intent has always been for the Fernvale Link site (zoned as “PW”), to be awarded to a religious organisation or its affiliate for the development of a Chinese Temple, EPL’s 2014 bid was not in line with the Government’s plan for the site.

EPL understood that its bid was not congruous with the planning intent for a PW site, and has thus agreed to terminate the awarded contract by mutual consent. Under the Mutual Termination Agreement, the Government will refund EPL the full land premium and associated taxes and duties, which EPL has paid to Government for the site. This is only fair as the contract of the Fernvale Link site has been terminated. There is no other separate payment.

EPL originally intended to use the Fernvale Link site to test out its automated columbarium system and operating model, and remains keen to explore projects where it can meet the growing needs for columbarium and end-of-life services in Singapore. EPL has separately, through a related company, submitted a proposal for a pilot project, which URA has assessed to hold potential to enhance land use efficiency and minimise dis-amenity to surrounding users. Given these merits and the need for such end-of-life services in our ageing society in the long run, the Government has decided to release a small plot of land to EPL for a technology pilot project for columbarium services. The site will be on land zoned for cemetery use and priced at market value based on columbarium use as determined by the Chief Valuer. The termination of the contract for the Fernvale Link site and the release of the small plot of land for the pilot project are part of the Mutual Termination Agreement.

The Government will re-tender the Fernvale Link site to restore the original planning intent of a Chinese Temple development.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 芬维连路地段将恢复原规划作华人庙宇用途

国家发展部（MND）已与Eternal Pure Land Pte Ltd（EPL）签署《双方同意终止协议》，终止2014年7月对芬维连路（Fernvale Link）宗教场所（PW）地段的中标授予。

2014年7月将芬维连路宗教场所地段授予EPL，是首次将宗教场所地段授予与宗教组织无关联的公司。然而，由于政府的一贯意图是将划为“宗教场所”的芬维连路地段授予宗教组织或其关联机构，以发展华人庙宇，EPL的2014年投标与政府对该地段的规划不符。

EPL明白其投标与宗教场所地段的规划意图不一致，因此已同意经双方同意终止所获合同。根据《双方同意终止协议》，政府将向EPL退还其为该地段向政府支付的全部地价及相关税费。由于芬维连路地段合同已终止，此举属公平合理。并无其他另行付款。

EPL原先打算利用芬维连路地段试验其自动化骨灰龛系统及运营模式，并仍有意探索能满足新加坡日益增长的骨灰龛及临终服务需求的项目。EPL已另行通过一家关联公司提交试点项目建议书，市区重建局（URA）评估认为该项目具有提升土地使用效率及尽量减少对周边使用者不利影响的潜力。鉴于这些优点，以及在我国老龄化社会中长远需要此类临终服务，政府已决定向EPL拨出一小块土地，用于骨灰龛服务的技术试点项目。该地段将位于划为坟场用途的土地上，并按总估价师基于骨灰龛用途所厘定的市值定价。终止芬维连路地段合同及拨出该小块土地用于试点项目，均为《双方同意终止协议》的一部分。

政府将重新招标芬维连路地段，以恢复原先规划为华人庙宇发展的意图。