A total of S$10 million has been awarded to owners of eight partial land lots being acquired for construction of the Thomson-East Coast MRT Line.
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said the owners were paid the market value as determined by private valuers, in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act.
Most of the acquired land, spanning a total of over 24,000 sqm, is in the Marine Parade and Changi South areas. More than 17,000 sqm belongs to the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.
The club said it has received the notice of compensation but declined further comment.
In April last year, S$45 million was awarded to owners of 15 houses also affected by the construction of the MRT line. They were located at Amber Road and Tanjong Katong Road.
SLA said some owners have accepted the award while others filed appeals with the Appeals Board. One valuer Channel NewsAsia spoke with said the valuation process is sometimes not that straightforward.
Mr Tan Keng Chiam, head of valuation advisory services at property consultancy JLL, said: “The challenges are basically understanding of the asset, what are the encumbrances, covenants or restrictions.
“I think one has to understand the product and thereafter determine the basis. In many occasions, differences arises because of different assumptions.”
Source : Channel NewsAsia – 9 Jan 2016