(d) Communal sky gardens for non-residential buildings
Application for exemption of sky gardens from GFA calculation will be favourably considered where such provision meets the following criteria:
(i) It provides natural ventilation, greenery and recreational garden space9 for communal use;
(ii) In addition to any podium garden, the maximum number of sky gardens provided is equal to or less than the number of storeys divided by 20;
(iii) Active recreational use is permissible except where the sky garden is located in an industrial building;
(iv) It is open-sided above safe parapet height on at least two opposite sides to provide cross ventilation;
(v) The net area of the sky garden occupies not less than 50% of the area of the floor plate, and where it is made up of more than one parcel on the same floor, the parcels are connected with each other by communal circulation areas on the same floor;
(vi) Within such net garden area, not less than 15% of the area of the floor plate is the greenery area which is:
a. planted with vegetations; and
b. within a zone which is not more than a horizontal distance “L” measured perpendicularly from the outer edge of any external wall which is open above safe parapet height and faces into the open air4, where ‘L’ equals to the clear vertical distance between the top of such external wall opening and the finished floor level of the garden.
vii) Where more than one sky garden are provided and where there is no podium garden, the first sky garden is to be located at not more than 10 storeys above the lowest ground storey for improvement of the microclimate at street level;
(viii) The sky garden is at least 10 storeys above any lower sky garden or podium garden in the same building unless under exceptional circumstances where strong environmental justifications are given;
(ix) Required refuge floor(s) is located at the roof or coupled with sky garden(s), the design of which shall comply with the relevant fire codes13;
(x) It is accessible from the common area only;
(xi) Where service lifts are provided, the garden is not served by such lifts;
(xii) It has a clear height of not less than 4.5m;
(xiii) Exhaust from any ventilating system does not face the garden;
(xiv) All planters, furniture and equipment are fixed to floors, walls or similar permanent constructions14;
(xv) A notice specifying that the garden is for communal use and that commercial activities within the garden such as café and shops are strictly prohibited, is posted at a prominent location at the garden;
(xvi) Maintenance of the garden is financially viable and a maintenance and management manual for the greenery works should be made available for end-users to safeguard public hygiene and safety of the garden;
(xvii) There is no concern from PlanD on the overall building height; and
(xviii) The granting of GFA concessions set out in this paragraph is subject to compliance with the pre-requisites stipulated in PNAP APP-151 on Building Design to Foster a Quality and Sustainable Built Environment.
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