News Releases

26 SEPTEMBER 2005

URA LAUNCHES TENDER FOR LAND PARCEL AT

ORCHARD ROAD / PATERSON ROAD (ORCHARD TURN)

1. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched the Land Parcel at Orchard Road/Paterson Road (Orchard Turn) for sale by public tender today.
   
   ORCHARD ROAD – SINGAPORE’S PREMIER SHOPPING STREET
   
   
2. The Orchard Turn site was made available for sale through the Reserve List on 30 March 2005 as part of MND/URA’s initiatives to encourage new developments along Orchard Road. Orchard Road is Singapore’s premier shopping street and a popular destination for visitors. The vision for Orchard Road is for it to be one of the greatest shopping streets in the world. To support this vision, the Orchard Turn site was released for sale to provide a new anchor retail development that will expand the diverse range of shopping outlets available and also generate added vibrancy to activities along Orchard Road.
   
   
3. On 14 September 2005, URA announced that it had accepted an application from a developer to put up the site for public tender. The developer has committed to bid at least $600,000,000 for the site in the public tender.
   
   
   SITE AT ORCHARD ROAD/ PATERSON ROAD (ORCHARD TURN)
   
   
4. The Orchard Turn site, which marks the gateway to Orchard Road, is planned for a signature retail development that is integrated with the Orchard MRT Station and seamlessly connected to the surrounding developments.
   
   
5. The site, which comprises 1.8ha of land above the Orchard MRT Station and an adjoining 0.3ha of subterranean space below Paterson Road, is zoned for commercial use and will yield a total Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 125,726 sqm. In order to provide a major anchor retail development that will offer shoppers a wide range of retail outlets and diverse shopping experience, at least 40% of the total GFA has to be built for retail, food & beverage and/or entertainment use. The developer will be given the flexibility to use the remaining GFA for other commercial and complementary hotel and residential uses.
   
   
6. The Orchard Turn site also has an unsurpassed height limit of 218m AMSL along Orchard Road. This would allow the development to be the tallest along Orchard Road. The vantage point from the top of the development will offer spectacular views of the surroundings and to allow the public to enjoy these views, the development is required to incorporate an observation deck on any of its top three floors. This observation deck shall be open to the public.
   
   
7. Given its prominent location and the fact that it is on top of the Orchard MRT Station, the Orchard Turn site is ideal for staging major events and national celebrations. The development will thus include a 3,000 sqm public event space on the first storey that will be seamlessly integrated with the Orchard Road pedestrian mall and allow activities to flow into Orchard Road when it is closed for major festive celebrations.
   
   
8. The development will also be integrated with Orchard MRT Station and connected to the surrounding developments. Direct access will be provided to the Orchard MRT Station below. A new underground pedestrian mall across Paterson Road to Wheelock Place will be built as part of the development. This will complete the underground pedestrian network at the Orchard Road/ Paterson Road junction. In addition, the existing underpass to Wisma Atria will also be widened to 6.0m. These connections will facilitate and enhance the flow of commuters and shoppers between the Orchard MRT Station and the surrounding developments.
   
   
9. The details of the site are at Annex A-1 and the location plan at Annex A-2. More details of the site are available on URA website at http://www.ura.gov.sg/sales/OrchardSomerset/OrchardTurnLaunch/ orchardturnmain26Sep05.htm.
   
   
   Details of Tender
   
   
10. The tender for the Orchard Turn site will close at 12 noon on 8 December 2005. Selection of the successful tenderer will be based on the tendered land price only. Any tender below the accepted minimum bid price of $600,000,000 will not be considered.
    
    
11. Developer’s Packets are available at S$105 each (inclusive of GST) for the site. These can be purchased from the Customer Service Counter on the 1st storey of The URA Centre, 45 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069118. The developer’s packets can also be purchased via URA-Online at http://www.ura.gov.sg/sales/sales_main.html at a cost of S$105 (excluding delivery charges) for local and overseas purchasers.