We worked with Singaporeans, stakeholders and agencies to put together a collective vision of a future city and home that would meet diverse needs and aspirations.
URA launched a year-long public engagement exercise for the Long-Term Plan Review (LTPR) in July 2021. Over the course of the year, we engaged over 15,000 people through a variety of platforms, such as online polls, facilitated discussions, workshops, participatory webinars and an art competition. Our partners such as the Singapore Institute of Architects, the Singapore Institute of Planners, the Urban Land Institute and the National Youth Council also conducted workshops to gather feedback and ideas from youth and the industry.
The engagements were designed to understand Singaporeans’ hopes, aspirations and concerns for Singapore’s future, and to develop a collective vision built upon shared values for Singapore in the next 50 years and beyond. The feedback was then translated into four outcomes for Singapore’s future urban environment – a Singapore that is i) Inclusive; ii) Sustainable; iii) Adaptable & Resilient; and iv) Distinctive & Endearing.
To meet these outcomes, URA has developed a set of planning principles that respond to trends and challenges Singapore may face in the future, as well as the ideas and feedback from Singaporeans and stakeholders. In continuing the conversation to discuss the considerations and trade-offs involved, we aim to refine our planning strategies to guide sustainable development for Singapore’s long-term future.
Youth at a dialogue with our Ministers on 17 July 2021 to discuss their hopes and aspirations for Singapore’s future living environment
People from all walks of life participated in URA’s LTPR virtual workshops
We prioritised the sensitive development of our urban spaces, guided by a consultative and evidence-based approach, which helped us put in place plans that balance different needs and interests.
We enhanced our heritage evaluation process with the implementation of the Heritage Impact Assessment framework. With the increased involvement of external consultants, stakeholders and the public for large-scale public sector redevelopment projects, the framework facilitates a more comprehensive assessment to better integrate our built heritage assets with future developments, and allows the community to play a larger role in shaping Singapore’s cityscape.
Environmental considerations remain an essential tenet of our planning approach. As part of the LTPR, we conducted a series of in-depth engagements on the planning for green and blue spaces – important spaces that cater to the ecological, recreational and functional needs of our city.
We engaged a group of around 70 stakeholders from interest groups, the built environment sector, academia, and the general public for their feedback on the approach to guide our long-term planning for greenery and waterbodies. This has enabled us to establish upstream planning principles that are guided by science, to strike a better balance between nature conservation and developmental needs when planning for the long term.
Diverse stakeholders sharing their views on planning for green and blue spaces
For instance, URA engaged a multidisciplinary team of architects, ecologists, and landscape architects, amongst others, to explore potential ideas for biodiversity-sensitive development within the future mixed-use development at Springleaf. By doing so, we will not only meet housing needs, but also ensure the protection of rich biodiversity and ecological connectivity in the area.
Ideas and solutions from the public featured prominently in our plans for a livelier and more vibrant cityscape.
The former Bukit Timah Fire Station will be rejuvenated as a community node for nature, heritage and adventure lovers, featuring an environmentally-sustainable lifestyle hub that integrates urban farming, wellness, and nature-based activities, with community spaces amidst lush greenery and rich heritage.
The tender for the State property was awarded to Homestead Holland Pte Ltd, the winning team of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group’s ‘Reinventing Cities’ competition, which required bidding teams to propose ways to repurpose the State property to promote healthy living, community interaction and integration with nature.
An aerial view of the future community node with a mix of lifestyle, food, educational and entertainment offerings, as well as public spaces © Homestead Holland Pte Ltd
URA and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) launched the 'Charmingly Changi' ideas competition in April 2021 to invite the public to propose creative ideas to build on the unique identity of Changi Point and enhance the district as a heritage and recreational node along the Greater Rustic Coast. Agencies received 134 submissions for the concept master plan for Changi Point and the adaptive reuse of Old Changi Hospital, and announced the winning ideas in November 2021. The proposals will be further reviewed for suitable ideas and concepts to be identified and distilled into the planning parameters for the future district.
A winning proposal, “Ascending to the Sky”, proposed repurposing the Old Changi Hospital building into a stargazing and aviation observatory
A winning entry for the concept master plan for Changi Point, “Changi Point: Nature & Nurturing”, proposed a forest trail with restored indigenous plants to create a lush landscape for nature lovers
URA and the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) jointly awarded the third edition of the SPARK Challenge. Themed ‘Enlivening Public Spaces’, the latest edition of the SPARK Challenge was launched in October 2021 and sought ground-up ideas from the public to enliven shopping malls and mixed-use developments across Singapore.
Five shortlisted designs were transformed into lively and immersive physical prototypes that were showcased in the Paya Lebar Central and Marina Central pilot Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), as well as the Orchard and Jurong Gateway precincts. The winning design, ‘Park Yourself’, was conferred a $10,000 cash prize at the award ceremony held at Marina Square.
Finalists of the URA-REDAS SPARK Challenge pictured with the Guest-of-Honour, Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah, at the award ceremony
Located at the Paya Lebar Quarter plaza, Park Yourself’s colourful frames and whiteboards drew in passers-by and invited them to explore the structure and interact with others © Team Park Yourself
Through the URA-SLA Reinventing Spaces into Vibrant Places programme, the State property at 30 Maxwell Road has been successfully transformed into one that activates and contributes to a more vibrant public realm in the Tanjong Pagar precinct. Under this programme, the tenderers are awarded the leases for the State properties based on the quality of their concept and their bid price.
The enhanced State property is now a lively recreational space that provides the community with improved pedestrian connectivity and increased amenities and events focused on health and wellness.
A vibrant and recreational node for the community © AIBI MaxWell
Visitors can enjoy more dining options with the new café at the enhanced State property
As the country reopened progressively, we continued our efforts to engage and collaborate with youth and URA volunteers to share Singapore’s urban planning story.
In ensuring that public outreach efforts were not halted despite the uncertain COVID-19 situation, we brought physical walking trails online. This included creating a six-part video series on the planning and design of Singapore River, in partnership with URA volunteers and Singapore River One, the Place Manager of the Singapore River precinct.
Filming was conducted with volunteers and Singapore River One
As part of these efforts, we also co-developed a 'Rediscover Katong' walking trail with former Katong resident, Mr Johnny Tan, and URA volunteers, to raise awareness about our conservation efforts and the various trade-offs involved in urban planning. The trail debuted as a virtual tour in November 2021 and attracted more than three hundred sign-ups.
‘Rediscover Katong’ virtual tour featuring URA volunteers
As part of our co-creation efforts with URA volunteers, 'Where Our Memories Are Parked' was an art and photo exhibition that explored how green spaces woven into our urban fabric have become well-loved places. Launched in February 2022, the exhibition at City Canvas featured what people loved about these places, including the rich biodiversity and the enhancements made to improve accessibility.
URA volunteers showing visitors around the exhibition
As the Singapore City Gallery reopened in tandem with the improving COVID-19 situation islandwide, we continued collaborating with our pool of volunteers to provide gallery visitors with an overview of Singapore’s urban development, and to share how URA brought plans to reality through a long-term and integrated planning process.
Volunteers bringing tertiary students and other members of the public through the Singapore City Gallery
We sustained our collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS) Geographical Society to create virtual workshops for students from tertiary institutions. Through facilitated case study discussions and interactive activities, the workshops provided students with deeper insight into how long-term strategic planning has shaped our urban environment.
Facilitators and students from NUS Geographical Society at a virtual workshop