# New virtual site inspection process could cut TOP approval time by up to two months - **Source:** EdgeProp Singapore - **Published:** 2026-09-02T10:30:00.000Z - **Author:** EdgeProp Singapore - **Original:** https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/new-virtual-site-inspection-process-could-cut-top-approval-time-two-months - **Topics:** Government & Policy, Investment & Capital Markets, Sustainability & PropTech ## Featured rationale Faster approvals and up to 30% productivity improvement may reduce completion delays and manpower costs, potentially allowing new housing supply to reach buyers sooner. ## AI summary Singapore project teams can immediately submit progressive 360-degree site scans for TOP and CSC inspections, potentially securing approval up to two months earlier. ## Original article Project teams in Singapore can now use a new whole-of-government virtual inspection process for temporary occupation permit (TOP) and certificate of statutory completion (CSC) inspections. It could potentially enable them to obtain approval up to two months earlier, and achieve manpower savings. With conventional physical inspections, project teams have to coordinate site works to ensure the requirements of multiple regulatory agencies are met and approvals secured in time. This can be especially challenging towards the end of a project, when delivery timelines are tight. Read also: Additional $112 mil funding, latest Green Mark version to further transform Singapore’s built environment Under the new process, project teams can opt to instead submit 360-degree virtual scans of their project sites to participating regulatory agencies to conduct their respective compliance checks required for TOP or CSC approvals. The scans can be submitted progressively as works in specific areas are completed, instead of waiting for the entire project to be ready before initiating inspections. This phased submission approach allows the TOP process to start earlier and gives project teams more flexibility in scheduling inspections. Preliminary findings from pilot projects — including the 1,008-unit private residential development Grand Dunman in District 15 — indicate that the process could result in up to 30% productivity improvement in terms of manpower and time savings for project parties during the overall TOP inspection process. Progressive submission also allows project teams to receive TOP approval up to two months earlier. The initiative was announced at the closing ceremony of the Construction Technology (ConTech) Summit 2026 on Sept 2 by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Alvin Tan. The virtual inspection process involves eight participating agencies: the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Infocomm Media Development Authority, Land Transport Authority, National Environment Agency, National Parks Board, PUB, Singapore Civil Defence Force, and URA. Read also: Five construction tech startups to showcase innovations at Apac pitch day in Singapore Project parties that meet the participating agencies’ requirements may apply for virtual inspections in lieu of physical inspections. Physical inspections will continue to be available for those that do not wish to use the new process. Firms can start using the process for TOP and CSC inspections with immediate effect. The participating agencies have also published a guidebook that sets out the agencies’ inspection requirements, processes and key considerations for project teams adopting the new approach with virtual scans. Funding support for discounted robot leasing When it comes to robotics and automation, BCA said it has seen increasing demand for leasing solutions. In response, it is launching the Robot Leasing Support Scheme to co-fund solution providers to lease proven robotics and automation solutions to built-environment firms. These include concrete-levelling, tile-grouting, drilling and painting robots, as well as solutions for autoclaved lightweight concrete panel installation. Read also: Size is not the only measure of construction quality: Decoding Conquas workmanship bands for private homes This initiative will provide up to 50% co-funding for each robot, to defray the costs of scaling up leasing solutions. It is meant to allow providers to offer discounted leasing to contractors, so that more firms can benefit from robotics and automation, as well as achieve greater time, cost and manpower savings. It will be funded through the Built Environment Technology and Capability (BETC) grant. To qualify, applicants must meet the existing BETC grant eligibility criteria, and have to be able to sustain a viable leasing model. They should set up a fleet of at least five robots, have a local maintenance team, and commit to offering fixed leasing rates for up to two years. BCA pointed to a growing pipeline of market-ready solutions that offer significant construction productivity gains and manpower savings. However, barriers such as high upfront costs continue to deter some firms, particularly SMEs, from adopting them. Leasing can be a more cost-effective way to benefit from these robotics and automation solutions, and BCA said that many firms have expressed interest in taking up leasing options. From pilot projects to wider industry adoption Separately, the government is exploring another run of the Built Environment Accelerate to Market Programme (BEAMP), which supports the development and deployment of innovative solutions in the built environment sector. Established in 2019, the multi-agency initiative by BCA, JTC and Enterprise Singapore has introduced more than 100 challenge statements over the past six cycles, catalysing collaborations between about 80 built environment firms and innovators. The government is considering another run to help take solutions from co-creation and pilot testing through to market trials and commercial deployment. One such collaboration involved Fabrica AI and Woh Hup, which co-developed a robot that automates floor tile grouting, a traditionally labour-intensive task. Through the partnership, Fabrica AI developed the fifth version of the robot, achieving productivity gains of up to two times compared with its previous version, as well as making it more reliable and user-friendly. The technology has been deployed at projects including One Holland Village, an open-concept mixed-use development in the Holland Village lifestyle enclave. ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 新虚拟工地检验流程或可将TOP审批时间缩短最多两个月 项目团队可提交工地360度虚拟扫描，用于TOP或CSC审批。当局同时公布新的机器人租赁计划。 新加坡的项目团队现在可以采用全新的跨政府部门虚拟检验流程，用于临时占用准证（TOP）和法定竣工证书（CSC）检验。 该流程有望让他们最多提前两个月获得审批，并节省人力。 在传统实地检验下，项目团队必须协调现场工程，以确保满足多个监管机构的要求，并及时取得审批。这在项目末期、交付时间紧张时尤其具有挑战性。 延伸阅读：额外1.12亿新元拨款及最新绿色建筑标志版本，将进一步推动新加坡建筑环境转型 在新流程下，项目团队可选择向参与的监管机构提交项目工地的360度虚拟扫描，由各机构进行TOP或CSC审批所需的合规检查。 扫描可在特定区域工程完成后分阶段提交，而不必等到整个项目就绪才启动检验。 这种分阶段提交方式让TOP流程可以更早启动，也让项目团队在安排检验时间上更有弹性。 试点项目的初步结果显示——其中包括位于第15区、共1,008个单位的私人住宅项目Grand Dunman——该流程或可在整个TOP检验过程中，为项目各方带来最多30%的人力与时间生产力提升。 分阶段提交也让项目团队最多可提前两个月获得TOP批准。 这项举措于9月2日在2026年建筑科技（ConTech）峰会闭幕式上，由外交部兼国家发展部政务部长陈圣贤公布。 虚拟检验流程涉及八个参与机构：建设局（BCA）、资讯通信媒体发展局、陆路交通管理局、国家环境局、国家公园局、公用事业局（PUB）、新加坡民防部队，以及市区重建局（URA）。 延伸阅读：五家建筑科技初创企业将在新加坡亚太路演日展示创新 符合参与机构要求的项目方可申请以虚拟检验代替实地检验。 不愿采用新流程者，仍可继续选择实地检验。 企业即日起即可将该流程用于TOP和CSC检验。 各参与机构也已发布指南，列明机构的检验要求、流程，以及项目团队采用虚拟扫描新方法时的主要注意事项。 机器人租赁折扣资助 在机器人与自动化方面，建设局表示，租赁解决方案的需求正在增加。 为此，建设局推出机器人租赁支持计划，共同资助解决方案供应商，向建筑环境企业出租经过验证的机器人与自动化方案。 这些方案包括混凝土找平、瓷砖填缝、钻孔和油漆机器人，以及蒸压轻质混凝土板安装解决方案。 延伸阅读：规模并非衡量施工质量的唯一标准：解读私人住宅CONQUAS工艺等级 该计划为每台机器人提供最高50%的共同资助，以降低扩大租赁方案的成本。 目的是让供应商能向承包商提供折扣租赁，使更多企业受惠于机器人与自动化，并实现更大的时间、成本与人力节省。 资金将来自建筑环境技术与能力（BETC）补助金。 要符合资格，申请者必须满足现有BETC补助金的资格标准，并能够维持可行的租赁模式。他们应建立至少五台机器人的机队，拥有本地维修团队，并承诺在最长两年内提供固定租赁费率。 建设局指出，市场上已有越来越多可显著提升施工生产力并节省人力的成熟方案。然而，高昂的前期成本等障碍，仍使部分企业（尤其是中小企业）却步。 租赁可以是受惠于这些机器人与自动化方案的更具成本效益的方式，建设局表示，许多企业已表达了对租赁选项的兴趣。 从试点项目走向更广泛的行业采用 另外，政府正探讨再办一轮建筑环境加速推向市场计划（BEAMP），以支持建筑环境领域创新方案的开发与部署。 该跨机构计划由建设局、裕廊集团和企业发展局于2019年设立，过去六个周期已推出逾100项挑战声明，促成约80家建筑环境企业与创新者之间的合作。 政府正考虑再办一轮，以协助方案从共创和试点测试推进到市场试验和商业部署。 其中一项合作涉及Fabrica AI与和合（Woh Hup），双方共同开发了一款可自动化完成传统上劳动密集的地板瓷砖填缝工作的机器人。 通过此次合作，Fabrica AI开发了该机器人的第五代版本，生产力较上一版本提升最多两倍，同时也更可靠、更易用。 该技术已部署于包括One Holland Village在内的项目，这是位于荷兰村生活圈的开放式综合用途发展项目。