Provision of Seating Areas in Retail and Commercial Developments for Elderly and Individuals with Mobility Challenges

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether URA will mandate a minimum number of seating areas in shopping malls to support the elderly and individuals with mobility challenges; (b) what guidelines currently govern the provision of such amenities in commercial developments; and (c) how does the Ministry ensure that the needs of these vulnerable groups are addressed in the planning and approval of new retail spaces.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) requires that all new buildings and existing buildings undergoing major addition and alteration (A&A) works comply with the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment. Under the Code, resting areas with seats must be provided along long paths of travel around and within buildings. The distance between each of these resting areas should be no greater than 50 metres. The Code also recommends that these seats be designed with armrests at an appropriate height to assist older persons or persons with disabilities to get up from the seats.

In addition, BCA has published Universal Design Guides, which provides industry with guidelines and good practices for accessibility features beyond the mandatory requirements, including the design of resting areas with seats.

BCA regularly reviews the Code to ensure that its standards meet the changing needs of the population. For instance, in the Draft Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment 2025, that is currently undergoing public consultation, the Code Review Committee has proposed to require at least one passenger alighting and boarding point to be equipped with seats. We encourage members of the public to provide feedback on the Draft Code, which is available for public consultation until 27 January 2025.