Our towns will encourage daily interactions among residents to help build a sense of belonging and foster vibrant communities.
Today, some parts of Singapore are homogenous clusters of public or private housing. As new towns are built and existing ones redeveloped, we strive to further mix different housing types to encourage more interaction between residents of different backgrounds.
Around Key Nodes within New Estates (view the high-res)
The new residential mixed-use town around the upcoming Bayshore MRT Station will have a mix of private and public housing.
Along Key Features and Corridors (view the high-res)
Punggol Waterway is a key recreational attraction that is easily accessible and enjoyed by all residents.
In Largely Private or Public Areas (view the high-res)
Existing estates can be injected with either more public or private housing. For example, in areas with larger private estates (along Upper Changi Road East), injecting public housing and amenities could help improve accessibility to facilities and allow for more social mixing.
A more resident-centric approach to planning and designing can create a built environment that promotes healthy lifestyles and social connections.
Health District @ Queenstown
Led by HDB, NUHS and NUS, this first-of-its-kind multi-stakeholder collaboration pilots initiatives that promote healthy and purposeful lifestyles in the district. These will be backed by science and co-created with residents and community partners. Viable solutions can then be implemented in towns across Singapore.
A multi-storey carpark within Queen's Arc comes with a “Step-Up” staircase as well as a roof garden with fitness facilities and jogging loop to encourage residents to keep fit. © HDB
There will be more walkable streets and a wider range of amenities and spaces in each town to encourage healthy lifestyles and to bring all residents together.
Our towns will become more convenient as essential amenities become increasingly accessible by walking. Such walkable towns that are designed to be safer and friendlier for pedestrians will support a healthy and active lifestyle too.
© Arup
Underutilised spaces such as under our expressways or MRT viaducts can be repurposed for other uses. For instance, LTA and stakeholders are embarking on a pilot project to reimagine Yishun and Tampines MRT stations as community hubs. They could house commercial and community services, while adjacent spaces can be better integrated with the surroundings.
Schools are integral facilities within our neighbourhoods that can serve as vibrant community anchors for residents to come together. Building on existing efforts to open school facilities for community use, we will explore ways for such places to be designed to be more open and welcoming to the public, while remaining safe and secure for students. New amenities can also cater for more flexible and diverse uses.
Eunoia Junior College houses Marymount Community Centre within it, allowing residents to interact with students and tap on the school's facilities. © MOE
Most of our commercial centres are planned as one-stop hubs in central locations and offer various amenities, such as supermarkets. We can explore extending them outwards with lively, attractive linear corridors in future towns to bring key amenities and services closer to homes and enliven the streetscape to encourage active mobility.
Existing programmes such as The Lively Places Programme and the ‘White Spaces’ pilot initiative have encouraged and inspired more residents and community stakeholders to organise projects and activities to strengthen neighbourhood bonds, shape their town’s living environment, and enliven public spaces and streets in them.
The Pets Park @ Segar Gardens in Bukit Panjang was created with the community to encourage responsible pet ownership. © tbc
Inclusive environments allow residents of all ages and abilities to have active and independent lives and to participate in the community. We will continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to co-create places and improve access to spaces for seniors, persons with disabilities, children and other groups. These efforts are in line with the Enabling Masterplans, a series of roadmaps collectively developed by the people, private and public sectors, alongside persons with disabilities and their caregivers, to transform Singapore into a more caring and inclusive society. The next edition of the Enabling Masterplan will be launched in the second half of 2022.