Singapore Government’s Draft Master Plan 2013: 20 Highlights

The government has recently revealed its Draft Master Plan 2013 that will chart Singapore’s development in the next 5 years.

While the 2008 master plan was more focused on driving economic growth, the key focus of the Draft master plan 2013 is on improving Singaporeans’ lifestyle, by building townships for all ages that are green, healthy, connected, strong in community, interaction and spirit, and to bring quality jobs closer to home.

Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan summed this up by saying that the goal was to make Singapore “an endearing home and a clean, green, liveable city”.

Here are 20 highlights of the new Draft Master Plan 2013:

1. More New Homes in Central Area

In the next 15 years, more homes will be built in central city areas, and every development will be within 5 minutes of transport nodes.

2. Creation of New Marina South District

A new district called Marina South will be carved out next to the existing Marina Bay, and will provide around 9,000 homes over a 21.5ha land area. The neighbourhood will boast eco-friendly features such as bike paths and an 800m long car-free street. Work on this is slated to begin after 2017, to coincide with the completion of the Thomson Line.

3. New Greater Southern Waterfront

With the relocation of the Keppel and Pasir Panjang terminals by 2027, 1,000 hectares of land will be freed up to create an entirely new waterfront city called the Greater Southern Waterfront. It will be a seamless extension of the city with homes, offices, canals, and reservoir, and will provide a continuous waterfront pathway for joggers and cyclists.

4. Civil and Cultural District By the Bay

The area between Empress Place and Esplanade park, with its existing museums and theatres, will be a designated neighbourhood for art & culture with open space for events.

5. More Diverse Choices for Homes

The government has earmarked land for 500,000 new homes, with a greater emphasis on HDB housing. Some of these homes will be built in new housing districts such as Tampines North, Punggol Matilda, and Biddari New Town (which will have 12,000 new homes by 2018). The rest will be built in well established estates like Sembawang, Yishun, Hougang and Choa Chu Kang. These estates will undergo a rejuvenation along with the new housing.

6. Development of Kampong Bugis

Kampong Bugis is located at the confluence of Rochor Canal and Kallang River (Lavender to Kallang MRT stations), so residents will be encouraged to get around via water taxi to reduce car usage. It has also been selected for a pilot water management project that will include a variety of features to manage storm water to reduce the risk of flooding. On the housing front, 4,000 new homes will be built next to Kallang MRT station.

7. Increasing Community Interaction

A “fenceless” housing precinct in Marina South & Kampong Bugis aims to encourage interaction between neighbours.

8. Keeping the “Identity Nodes”

Over 70 buildings will be conserved, including Alexandra hospital and former military buildings in Seletar. Holland Village will be extended to provide space for another 1500 homes by 2016/17, while respecting the existing low rise buildings.

9. Growth Strategy by Jobs Creation

The government will support sustained growth in city, while creating more commercial hubs outside city as well as new industrial clusters, like the Punggol Creative Cluster and North Coast Corridor.

10. Regionalization Strategy

The government aims to bring jobs closer to home, by growing regional centres in Tampines (1992-2013), Jurong Lake District (2008-2023), and Woodlands (2013-2028, comprising Woodlands North Coast and Woodlands Central). A future 4th regional centre in Seletar will most likely take place after development in Woodlands in complete.

11. Woodlands Regional Centre

The newest of the current 3 Regional Centres, growth in Woodlands will be boosted by the introduction of the Woodlands North MRT rail link interchange to Johor Bahru in Malaysia.

12. Woodlands North Corridor

A new industrial zone where SMEs, creative industries, and light high technology industries can develop.

13. Seletar Aerospace Park

The existing Seletar Air Base will be redeveloped into a new industrial zone called Seletar Aerospace Park. 10,000 jobs are expected to be created.

14. More Homes in the East

Key neighbourhoods for growth will be Tampines North, Bedok, and Tanah Merah. This is in line with the new Eastern Region Line MRT that will cover these areas.

15.New Growth Centres in the East

The East will be a focus point for economic development, and new jobs are expected to be created from plans to expand Changi Business Park as well as Changi Airport’s Jewel Project.

16. Jurong Lake District

Jurong Lake District is set to become the largest regional centre outside the Singapore city centre.

17. New Shopping Centres Near to Diverse Homes

In line with the Regionalisation plan, shopping will also be decentralised with malls closer to homes. For example, a new shopping mall is planned in Serangoon next to Nex mall.

18. More Integrated Transport Hubs

Intergrated transport hubs that combine MRT stations with a bus interchange are planned at Jurong East, Bukit Panjang, and Joo Koon. In addition, more MRT lines are in the works, such as the Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line.

19. Green Spaces Expanded

Close to 90% of residents will live within 400m of parks as the Government extends the Park Connectors islandwide.

20. A Cycling Friendly City

Singapore’s cycling network will grow from the current 230km to 700km, with better parking facilities, better lighting and smoother connectivity.

Source: URA