Hi all potential neighbours,
Maybe I can try to answer the query on Plot Ratio (PR). No guarantee that my observation and research is right. Lol.
Plot Ratio is essentially a multiplier used to times by the site area to give the Gross Floor Area(GFA) which could be built on the site. For example, if the site area measures 10,000sqm and the plot ratio is 2.8, a total GFA of 28,000sqm is allowed to built on the land itself. So what's GFA? GFA broadly refers to any built-up area or what I term it as walkable area within the development. It is inclusive of the stairs, the common areas and the housing units itself. In condos, the common property i.e. swimming pools and other facilities are included as well.
To place this in the context of clementi ridges, you might wanna take a look at Master Plan 2008 for the plot of land where the temp bus interchange is situated and the plot of land beside Nan Hua Primary if you are considering sea view units. A plot ratio of 4.2 is allocated to the plot of land which the temp bus interchange is on. In other words, it is likely to have a high building density of perhaps up to 40storeys. The PR does not indicate a maximum building height, neither does it tells us specifically what height are the future buildings gonna be. It merely states the allowable GFA. (In this sense, architects are given more flexibility to design their buildings. Note: other places may have a max building height such as areas around airport. Not quite sure for this cos i lazy to check. Lolz).
Drawing reference from the clementi mall land which has a PR of 5.0 and clementi ridges of 3.5, i speculate that the temp bus interchange will have buildings of 40 storeys approximately. On top of what many had mentioned that there will be a SERS development, I speculate that there may also be a private development as the Masterplan 2008 indicates 2 Plots of land there instead of just one. (So I was thinking one plot for HDB, one plot for private devt). My reason for this is that a PR of 4.2 is rather uncommon for land zoned for residential purposes. The clementi mall land is zoned as 5 as it has commercial spaces at the ground floor.
As for the land beside Nan Hua Primary, it has PR 2.8. Based on my research and observation, a land with PR 2.8 usually will have buildings up to 25 or 30storeys max. (Note: this is purely my estimation. It may be incorrect. You may want to do your own study). Therefore, potential buyers of units facing sea might wanna consider this.
Similarly, buyers of units facing the bukit timah hill may want to take note that the existing HDB flats behind (11 storeys currently) is zoned as PR 2.8 as well. In my opinion, this means that there may be a chance of SERS taking place there in the future to fully utilise the land. Therefore, you might want to factor this into your consideration when selecting a unit facing that side.
All in all, I hope my 2 cents of opinion and knowledge helps
. I am not trying to discourage anyone or to derogate from anybody's decision. Instead, I hope it helps in weighing your pro and cons in unit selection. I am saying this cos I faced the same delimma too when I was choosing my unit a few days back.
