Businesses and local communities can play a part in making a place more vibrant. The pilot Business Improvement District (BID) programme helps to enhance the vibrancy of a precinct. They are operated independently by the private sector.
Initiatives like Lively Places Programme have encouraged many stakeholders to partner us in transforming public spaces into exciting community spaces. To encourage more ground-up place management efforts, the BID programme was piloted in Sep 2017 and has garnered strong interest from stakeholders in the private sector.
A BID is a business-led and -funded body formed to improve a defined area. It is a formal place management model commonly adopted overseas. Times Square Alliance in the United States and New West End Company in the United Kingdom are examples of established BIDs.
In Singapore, the pilot BID programme will enable the Government to assess the feasibility of the BID model and the possibility of enacting legislation in the future to formally empower the private sector to take ownership of their precincts.
BIDs are operated independently by the private sector to enhance the vibrancy and attractiveness of the precinct through targeted marketing, hospitality and events. The BIDs can also complement various services provided by the government, such as improvements in areas of security, transportation and maintenance.
Business and local communities can take charge to improve their area and stand to benefit from increased footfall and reduced costs in the precinct. There is also greater certainty in funding and ensures fairer contributions among stakeholders to improve their district.
Pilot BID precincts will receive matching seed funding from the Government for every dollar of collected membership fees to kick start stakeholder-led place management initiatives in these precincts.
Discover the 10 precincts who have indicated interest to participate in the pilot BID programme and their visions and hopes in shaping into delightful destinations for the community.
Vision of the Precinct
A melting pot of gastronomy, entertainment, business, lifestyle, and culture.
Introduction of Precinct
China Place is located in the heart of Chinatown and is close to the Central Business District (CBD), blending both the old and new. It is a reflection of the rich history of the precinct and the dynamism of Singapore’s CBD with rows of traditional shophouses located side by side with commercial buildings.
Stakeholders aim to turn China Place into a precinct that brings together diverse elements such as gastronomy, entertainment, business, lifestyle and culture.
Key Initiatives
• Activate public spaces with outdoor furniture, sculptures and activities. • Regular road closures along China Street for connectivity. • Organise more events and activities to enliven and showcase the precinct and offerings. • Create heritage trails and link up storyboards in the vicinity. • Introduce health programmes in partnership with agencies and tenants.
Precinct Stakeholders
• Capital Square Pte Ltd: Capital Square • Far East Organization: Far East Square / Amoy Hotel / The Clan Hotel • Frasers Property Commercial Management (FPCM): Cross Street Exchange / The Capri • Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Ltd / Straits Eastern Square Pte Ltd: Great Eastern Centre / Nankin Row
A vibrant arts and cultural district with rich history and architecture.
City Hall is where heritage meets modernity, and where monumental events both past and present have taken place. It is a precinct that local communities visit for leisure and travellers come to explore.
Placemaking efforts can help enhance the precinct further in continuing to stay relevant, creating meaningful and engaging experiences for both locals and tourists. Participating in the pilot BID programme will bring the diverse stakeholders within the precinct together in order to create new offerings for visitors.
• Curate signature annual food, wine, arts and culture events • Create temporary artworks, trails and photo spots to engage community and create social conversations with focus on home-grown talents. • Train concierges and doormen to become precinct ambassadors to promote the “hidden finds” and “must-visit locations” in the area to visitors. • Introduce centralised platforms such as website and dedicated social media platforms to publicise the precinct • Enhance public-private sector partnership in place management to ensure that programmes are inclusive, well-balanced and catered for all walks of life.
The beachhead for Jurong Lake District, and an established vibrant lifestyle and business hub of the West region, anchored in wellness and sustainability.
As a strategic location within the Jurong Lake District, stakeholders will establish Jurong Gateway’s position as a vibrant lifestyle and business hub in the West, anchored in wellness and sustainability.
The participation by stakeholders within the precinct in the pilot BID programme demonstrates a unified call to action to grow and develop the precinct together, and be part of a recognised place brand. The stakeholders will work closely with the public sector and community partners to make Jurong Gateway an even more attractive destination for residents, working professionals, visitors and businesses.
• Create an attractive and welcoming public realm for all through improved wayfinding and pedestrian comfort. • Position Jurong Gateway as the focal point for people in the West region to gather and connect through targeted outreach and coordinated precinct programming. • Promote sustainable management of resources through shared customer services, coordinated logistics and common spaces.
• CapitaLand Group: IMM, JCube and Westgate • Lendlease: JEM • Low Keng Huat / Sun Venture: Westgate Tower
A melting pot of heritage, culture and tradition with unique experiences for all.
Introduction of the Precinct
Kampong Glam is a precinct rich in heritage and tradition. Over the past few years, through the efforts of the stakeholders, the area has been transformed into a vibrant precinct through an array of cultural and heritage events, colourful murals on shophouse facades, curated bazaars, and car-free zones that activate the streets.
The partnership is made up of a diverse group of stakeholders to promote its rich heritage, and to engage and educate people from all walks of life.
• Create signature events that highlight the precinct’s heritage and culture. • Create more car-free zones to create a connected community – one that is family and tourist friendly. • Beautify precinct through post box arts, murals, etc. This will make the streets more appealing and offer more Instagram worthy shots. • Introduce colour crossings to connect precinct. • Introduce place and heritage markers.
Property owners: • Shophouses: 8M Real Estate • Shophouses: Breezeway Developments • Shophouses: Saeid Labbafi • Shophouses: Sifr Aromantics • Shophouses: Utopia Apparels
Business owners • Business owner: Blu Jaz Café • Hotel operator: Andaz Singapore • Hotel operator: RB Hospitality
Community partners • Aliwal Arts Centre • Malay Heritage Centre / Malay Heritage Foundation • Sultan Mosque
Formed in January 2020
Best integrated business, employment, lifestyle and recreational destination of choice.
Marina Bay is a well-known vibrant destination and a bay for everyone. Through the placemaking efforts over the years, the precinct has grown into a leading financial centre, with public spaces for the community and hosting signature events all year round. Stakeholders believe that it is important to look into ways to keep the office communities engaged, enhancing the working experience within the precinct and offering premium quality accommodation and F&B options.
Through the pilot BID programme, stakeholders will look at utilising the public spaces and collectively organising events more regularly to inject even more vibrancy into the precinct to cater for the communities’ social and recreational needs, fulfilling their vision to emerge as the best integrated business, employment, lifestyle and recreational destination of choice.
• Design a unique Marina Bay experience for community and visitors through various offerings to showcase the interesting aspects of the precinct (e.g. dining spots with a view). • Organise regular activations (e.g. fitness, family friendly activities) to enhance the vibrancy and attract footfall to the precinct. • Curate different events at public spaces around the precinct such as The Promontory at Marina Bay, and The Lawn at Marina Bay, to showcase the variety of architecture and views of the iconic skyline. • Improve and enhance connectivity among the developments, such as wayfinding. • Implement joint marketing initiatives among stakeholders.
• Hong Kong Land, Keppel REIT, Suntec REIT, DBS, Raffles Quay Asset Management: One Raffles Quay and Marina Bay Financial Centre • M+S: Marina One • OUE Commercial REIT and Allianz Real Estate Asia Pacific Core I: OUE Bayfront • Sino Land Company Ltd: The Fullerton Heritage
Follow the Marina Bay pilot BID on their website, Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
A vibrant precinct in the heart of the Marina where business meets leisure.
Marina Central is a vibrant precinct where business meets leisure. The precinct offers a good mix of amenities and attractions that appeals to business travellers, locals and tourists through an active calendar of conventions, events, arts and cultural programmes and a wide network of hotels and retail shops.
• Build a strong precinct brand to enhance the precinct’s unique identity through development of precinct marketing collaterals. • Enhance inter-development connectivity and accessibility to the precinct through studies on pedestrian movements and wayfinding. • Organise precinct-wide programmes to highlight the different quality offerings across developments. • Support community causes for common good.
Property owners • City Developments Limited & IOI Properties Group Berhad: South Beach Singapore • Marina Centre Holdings Pte Ltd: Marina Square • Pontiac Land Group: Millenia Singapore • Suntec REIT: Suntec City
Community partner • The Esplanade Co. Ltd.: Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
Follow the Marina Central pilot BID on their Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
A lively, pedestrian friendly commercial hub with a distinctive cultural identity.
Paya Lebar Central, a centrally located new business hub in Singapore, is an area that possesses a strong cultural heritage, where the distinctive local identity will be further anchored by Wisma Geylang Serai. Through participation in the pilot BID programme, stakeholders will be able to work together to form a collective vision that taps into the creativity and resources of everyone to strengthen the district.
• Strengthen community and cultural identity through events and activities such as festival celebrations, and heritage trails and markers to reflect the rich Malay and Peranakan heritage. • Introduce collaborative programmes and initiatives such as precinct-wide community and sporting events to promote Paya Lebar Central as a lively and distinctive precinct. • Strengthen quality of public spaces by facilitating creative use of the space. • Improve connectivity and accessibility with enhanced walkways, shared car park facilities among the developments.
• Lendlease: Paya Lebar Quarter • Low Keng Huat / Sun Venture : Paya Lebar Square • Singapore Post Limited: SingPost Centre
A dynamic precinct with active placemaking, enabled by seamless connectivity and reliable infrastructure, attracting global talents.
Historically rich with strategic importance, Raffles Place was the birthplace of Singapore’s commercial development. Today, it is the country’s premier business district featuring some of its most prominent landmark buildings.
With planned rejuvenation of the area already in the works, the precinct looks set to become an even more attractive place to work in - through injection of new uses, and the creation of people-friendly streets and delightful public spaces that will add new vitality to the area.
• A survey will be carried out to better understand the tenants and workers’ needs, in order to introduce meaningful programming and useful shared services to enhance the workplace experience. • Activating the public realm. For example, Raffles Place Park can be activated with programming, activities and public art, becoming a more prominent focal point for the precinct. • Attracting more visitors through events and activities. The precinct’s past can be brought to life, making it a more distinctive destination while bringing new buzz to the district. An upcoming public space at Market Street will offer more spaces for community events.
• Bank of China: Bank of China Building • CapitaLand Group: 6 Battery Road, CapitaGreen, CapitaSpring • City Developments Limited: Republic Plaza • Keppel REIT: Ocean Financial Centre • NTUC Income: Income at Raffles • OCBC Bank: OCBC Centre, Bank of Singapore • OUB Centre Limited: One Raffles Place • RB Capital Pte Ltd: RB Capital Building • Royal Group: Royal One Philip, Royal Group Building • United Industrial Corporation Limited: Singapore Land Tower, Clifford Centre
Follow the Raffles Place pilot BID on their website, Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
Formed in April 2017
Make Singapore River THE premier destination for locals and tourists seeking an authentically Singapore experience in a place that connects the country’s past to the present.
Singapore River has always been a special place for many. Placemaking can continue to make it an iconic destination to visit, just like Seine is for Paris and the River Thames for London. It can also help to continue making the river relevant and memorable for Singaporeans. BID will help to bring greater certainty and stability in carrying out activities and programmes that are more ambitious and longer term.
In future, placemaking initiatives will focus on enhancing value for both businesses and visitors, driving business costs down, improving the public realm and introducing more unique and distinctive events and activities.
• Boat Quay: UOB Plaza 1 & 2 (United Overseas Bank Limited); Shophouses: 8th Era Investments Pte Ltd, Upside Property 1 Pte Ltd and many individual property owners • Clarke Quay: Clarke Quay (CapitaLand Mall Trust); Clarke Quay Central and Riverside Point (Far East Organization); Swissôtel Merchant Court Hotel (Merchant Court Pte Ltd) • Robertson Quay: Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, M Social Singapore and Studio M Hotel (City Developments Limited, Hong Leong Holdings Limited, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels); InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay (RB Capital); Robertson Walk (Frasers Property Singapore)
Follow the Singapore River pilot BID on their website, Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
Formed in September 2019
A colourful and vibrant gem with a blend of old and new in the heart of CBD.
Tanjong Pagar is a thriving mixed-use neighbourhood located within the CBD and close to Chinatown. The area has a rich history with familiar neighbourhoods and conserved shophouses, alongside new developments such as Guoco Tower, Oasia Hotel Downtown, Carlton City Hotel and OUE Downtown.
With placemaking efforts, the area has the potential to transform into an interesting destination where people can experience the best of old and new, the traditional and the modern.
• Create a unique destination where visitors can savour the food, sights and sounds of Tanjong Pagar in the past while experiencing activities that will resonate with the new generation. • Create more events and activities at the public spaces that showcase the old and new aspects of the area. • Create digital platforms for marketing of precinct offerings. • Add car-free zones and outdoor furniture in public spaces.
• Carlton City Hotel (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.: Carlton City Hotel • Far East Organization: Oasia Hotel Downtown and Icon Village • GuocoLand: Guoco Tower • Orchid Hotel Pte Ltd: Orchid Hotel • OUE Limited: OUE Downtown and Downtown Gallery • Tian Teck Investment Holding Co. Pte. Ltd.: International Plaza
Follow the Tanjong Pagar pilot BID on their website, Facebook and Instagram for more updates.
Read about our placemaking book
Find out more about some of the initiatives, stories and lessons from our precincts in Singapore.
Download the book here (PDF, 12.9MB)