To chart Singapore's development for the next 50 years and beyond, URA has embarked on a review of our long-term land use plans with the Long-Term Plan Review (LTPR). This review is conducted every 10 years to plan our land use and infrastructure, based on evolving trends and changing needs.
The LTPR will place a greater focus on strengthening the resilience, flexibility and inclusiveness of our plans. URA will put Singaporeans at the centre of the review, and is engaging citizens and stakeholders widely to gather ideas, views and insights concerning Singapore's future living environment.
Design professionals and students submitted innovative proposals to reimagine the Paya Lebar Air Base site and surrounding industrial estates as a new town to meet the needs of the future. Winning entries celebrated the aviation heritage of the area, while championing progressive and bold designs to address future urban challenges.
URA will partner the Singapore Institute of Planners and Singapore Institute of Architects to involve more local planners and architects to explore concept ideas and precinct designs for the site, taking into consideration the opportunities and challenges in a post-COVID-19 world.
The Runway ‘Sheds’ © MIX Design Studio
Paya Lebar Tomorrow © The University of Hong Kong
We are strengthening our economic gateways and developing business nodes beyond the Central Business District (CBD) to bring more jobs and amenities within reach, as well as pilot new policies for economic growth.
As the anchor of our Western Gateway, Jurong Lake District is shaping up to be an attractive, low-carbon, mixed-use business district. To kickstart its next phase of development, URA worked with the economic agencies and sought views from companies in the real estate, financial, technology, sustainability and professional services sectors, on ways to enhance the district’s appeal in catering to the evolving needs of businesses.
We also worked with agencies to facilitate the planning and implementation of key projects including Jurong Lake Gardens, the future new Science Centre, the future tourism development next to Chinese Garden MRT station, the upcoming Jurong Region and Cross Island MRT lines, the Jurong East Integrated Transport Hub, as well as the progressive relocation of infrastructure-related government agencies to the district. Our planners, architects and engineers further reviewed and refined plans for future essential infrastructure such as district cooling systems, utility services, cycling paths and roads.
Growing Jurong Lake District through focused investment and development
Jurong Lake Gardens is Singapore’s first national gardens in the heartlands, located in Jurong Lake District
The opening of Woods Square, an integrated commercial development, meant greater access to amenities for residents
URA has been working with agencies and stakeholders on plans to advance the transformation of Woodlands Regional Centre into the largest economic hub in the North region. A catalyst for this up and coming destination, Woods Square, an integrated commercial development with open spaces, retail and food offerings, opened in early 2020. This was followed by the Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub, which helped to improve commuting times and access to amenities for residents. New public housing scheduled to be completed by 2026 and additional local amenities will also add to the vibrancy of the area.
The Woodlands North MRT Station, which opened in early 2020, will be integrated with the upcoming Rapid Transit System Link and transport hub by 2026. When completed, commuters can shuttle between Johor Bahru and Singapore in a five-minute ride, further transforming Woodlands into a cross-border growth hub and thriving economic gateway for the North region. To meet evolving needs of the industry, there will also be new industrial developments in the area that offer greater flexibility for businesses to co-locate knowledge-intensive and service-oriented activities to boost synergies.
The Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub offers comfortable connections between the bus interchange, MRT stations and nearby shopping malls
Punggol Digital District (PDD) is on track to be the next-generation smart and integrated district in the Northern Gateway, bringing together a business park, the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and community facilities under URA’s Enterprise District framework. URA worked with JTC and SIT in enabling closer industry-academia collaboration through shared work spaces and facilities, and key industry players of the digital economy such as cybersecurity and digital technology firms will be set up in the district.
The Enterprise District framework for PDD allows greater flexibility in determining an optimal combination of uses within a set of district-level floor area controls
At the Eastern Gateway, URA continued working with agencies to review plans to support future aviation-related businesses. We are also continuing to plan for and implement transport infrastructure, such as enhancements to roads and passenger terminals in the region.
Working closely with the community, we enhanced natural and recreational places so that more people of all ages and abilities can enjoy them.
A 13-kilometre stretch of the Rail Corridor between Spooner Road and Upper Bukit Timah underwent enhancement works based on public feedback garnered over the years to make the trail more inclusive and accessible. This stretch was fully reopened for public use in March 2021, and visitors can now walk, jog and enter the trail safely.
We also enhanced greenery and biodiversity, and prolonged the lifespan of infrastructure for future generations to enjoy. Improvements include safer access points, a more durable and accessible trail, rewilding of the space with planting of more native species, a new underpass, and four refurbished heritage railway bridges.
Improved trail near the Singapore Quarry Bridge along the Rail Corridor (Central)
Landscaped stairs that serve as an access point along the Rail Corridor (Central)
We reviewed and enhanced our environmental impact assessment framework to strengthen processes and increase transparency. We also worked alongside partners in reaffirming our commitment to address climate change.
We supported the Ministry of National Development in reviewing the EIA framework, which was first introduced in 2008. After studying feedback from nature stakeholders and development agencies, the EIA framework was enhanced to ensure that it remains relevant and robust for Singapore.
Key enhancements include strengthening the way developing agencies and consultants carry out environmental studies, increasing transparency by making the EIA reports available online, and greater upstream engagement of stakeholders on environmental issues in the planning evaluation process.
To mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and reaffirm Singapore’s commitment in addressing the impact of climate change, we joined hands with the National Climate Change Secretariat and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment to participate in this global campaign organised by C40 – a network of megacities committed to realising the goals of the Paris Agreement.
On 12 December 2020, 12 buildings and landmarks around Marina Bay and the Civic District lit up in green, signifying the commitment from all to build a sustainable and resilient city of the future.
Buildings and structures, like The Helix Bridge, switched their façade lighting to green in support of the campaign