Efforts made by NParks to restore nature in the urban landscape reached a milestone to date with its achievement of approximately 155ha of skyrise greenery. This area is bigger than 155 football fields. The target under the Singapore Green Plan 2030 is to have 200 ha of skyrise greenery.
NParks’ SGIS provides funding to meet this goal, of up to 50% of installation costs for vertical greenery projects and rooftop greenery on existing buildings, which has been extended for another 3 years from March 2023 to the end of March 2026. The Skyrise Greenery Programme comprises a wide range of initiatives from research and incentive schemes towards education and recognition programmes to build capabilities and capacity in Singapore’s skyrise greenery.
Over $102 million has been disbursed by SGIS since its launch in 2009, according to NParks, the lead agency for greenery and biodiversity conservation. There is a cap of $ 500 per sq. m for vertical greenery and $ 200 per sq. m for rooftop greenery. Sophianne Araib, group director of horticulture and community gardening of NParks informed the Straits Times that over 300 applications have been received by them to retrofit existing buildings with recreational rooftop gardens, lush, verdant green walls and edible gardens.
Applications are assessed based on the merit of the project and capability of contributing towards ecological, climate and social resilience goals.
Ms. Araib stated that beneficiaries of the SGIS are wide-ranging, including private residential developments, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, community and commercial buildings and industrial developments.
One of the beneficiaries of NParks’ Skyrise Greenery Incentive Scheme (SGIS) is Residential development One Shenton, a luxurious residential development situated in the heart of Singapore’s downtown core planning region. Ms. Araib said that vertical greenery columns have been added for One Shenton adjacent to busy streets and at the pedestrian level and aside from visual relief for occupants of the building and members of the public, the green walls help to reduce exposure to air pollution, positively contributing to the therapeutic requirements of people working and living in urban areas. Mr. Alexandre Collin, Chairman of One Shenton’s Management Council said that the overall cost including installations on the façade of the building came up to approximately $750,000 with $330 subsidised by NParks. One Shenton has been gradually upgrading its infrastructure and facilities, including the installation of skyrise vertical greenery.
Mr. Colin stated that their residents have become more cognizant of their well-being and mental health, and wish to spend more time outdoors. The outdoor pavilions, newly enhanced green spaces, communal spaces and pool decks with cabanas are now necessary comforts that will enhance their quality of life. He added that besides enhancing the residents’ quality of life, adding sustainable features has long-term benefits owing to a cumulative reduction of 30% in the usage of electricity throughout the common area facilities of the building. These savings in combination with green building features like energy-efficient light fittings and climate-friendly reflective facades of One Shenton have helped its managing body to absorb inflation without increasing management fees over the past 10 years, he stated.
Ms. Araib said that One Shenton has been gradually upgrading its infrastructure and facilities since 2019. At present, private residential property developers account for less than 3% of total applications for the SGIS because there is already buy-in and strong support to incorporate verdant and lush greenery by private residential property developers.
Other projects supported under the scheme include Keppel Infrastructure @ Changi which installed greenery along with solar panels on the building façade and The Giving Garden @ Kim Tian West which saw the conversion of a concrete car park roof deck into a lush edible garden.
