Integrated Master Planning and Development

Long-term vision and integrated planning create Singapore's dynamic, sustainable urban landscape (Unsplash)

Singapore's land and resource scarcity has necessitated its adoption of an integrated approach to master planning and development to ensure that its long-term needs can be met. It embraces adaptive strategies that enhance urban resilience and flexibility, and avoid rigid, “locked-in” solutions. It actively seeks out “win-win”, cross-domain opportunities, and emphasises close coordination and systemic innovation for effective implementation of integrated solutions. As Singapore faces significantly more physical constraints compared to many other cities, the underlying principles of integrated master planning and development have been critical in guiding sustainable development given the scarcity of land. 

Understanding Singapore's Urban Planning System 

Singapore’s integrated planning process (Adapted from original image from Urban Redevelopment Authority)

Singapore's current planning framework operates through an integrated system of the Long-Term Plan and Master Plan. The Long-Term Plan is a comprehensive national urban policy document that guides the development of Singapore, mapping out strategic land uses and infrastructure needs over the next 40 to 50 years. The strategies outlined in the Long-Term Plan are then translated into a statutory Master Plan which details the development of land and property over the next 10 to 15 years. The development process of these plans involves extensive engagements to balance competing priorities in land allocation while addressing Singapore's emerging needs and aspirations. With this system in place, Singapore has sought to effectively plan ahead and judiciously manage its limited land resources. This planning process also provides the framework for Singapore to translate its liveability goals into actionable strategies and positively impact the lives of residents. 

As Singapore’s urban landscape matures with less room to maneuver, planning challenges have intensified.  Combined with the accelerated pace of global change and increasing complexity of urban issues, there is a greater emphasis on Singapore’s resilience in its planning processes, urban development, infrastructure and social fabric. Thus, planning processes need to be flexible to allow for multiple future scenarios, be accommodative of adaptive reuse, and seek greater community involvement in decision-making. For this to happen, integrated master planning and development, as a system, needs to be responsive, agile and adaptive to critical issues. 

Principles of Integrated Master Planning and Development

There are five principles by which integrated master planning and development contributes towards liveability outcomes in Singapore — thinking long term, building for resilience, seeking “win-win”, executing effectively and innovating systemically. 

Principle 1: Think Long Term

The URA Long-Term Plan (launched in 2022) (Urban Redevelopment Authority)

Taking a long-term perspective in land planning has enabled Singapore to prudently manage its limited land resources and ensure sustainable development. This perspective is embedded in the latest Long-Term Plan which encompasses projected land use demands for housing, industry and commerce, recreation and nature areas, transport, utility infrastructure, and defence requirements. As the complexity of urban issues and the pace of change increases, the Long-Term Plan has evolved towards a pre-emptive, scenario-based approach. Apart from being reviewed every 10 years to facilitate responses to trends, urban planners consider multiple pathways and project a range of possibilities for the future, and identify signposts that would help evaluate and trigger decisions further down the road. 

Being pre-emptive and predictive requires foresight and vision, coupled with pragmatism. It also requires a shared understanding between policymakers and the community. Policymakers are actively engaging the public over the longer term, fostering a shared commitment to resource sustainability while creating opportunities for the community to contribute to problem-solving. This approach is intended to inspire the broad populace to step up as stewards of Singapore’s future.   

Principle 2: Build for Resilience

Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay showcase Singapore's approach to infrastructure that serves both functional and leisure needs (Unsplash)

While having foresight to think long term is important, it is impossible to predict and anticipate trends with absolute certainty. It is critical to build for resilience by incorporating elements of agility and optionality. Singapore has sought to achieve planning resilience in four key domains — planning process, infrastructure and resources, social fabric, and having a flexible mindset.   

First, the recent Long-Term Plan Review (LTPR) takes a scenario-based approach. This allows Singapore to work towards developing planning strategies that can address a range of planning scenarios and provide optionality. Second, adaptable and flexible designs are pursued to optimise Singapore’s limited land area and resources. Explorations are also underway to determine the viability of underground, air-based urban mobility and floating infrastructure approaches. Where possible, developments are also built with multiple functions to meet a variety of needs. Third, social capital is built and preserved by engaging the public in planning processes to foster community ownership of plans. Fourth, government agencies aim to consistently adopt a critical mindset towards existing policies and be prepared for change, as the best-laid plans will not come to fruition if policymakers are not adept at accommodating them. 

Principle 3: Seek “Win-Win” 

Our Tampines Hub is one example of an integrated development that incorporated the needs of multiple agencies to deliver good outcomes for residents (Centre for Liveable Cities)

As Singapore becomes more built-up and its building stock and infrastructure begin to age, it becomes increasingly important for government agencies to achieve their development and rejuvenation goals cooperatively. Besides having to balance competing priorities within an increasingly limited amount of land, there is also the ongoing struggle to safeguard substantial greenfield sites for future growth. To address these challenges, planning solutions need to be more integrative.   

This requires agencies, each with deep technical expertise, to collaborate with one another to find systemic solutions. It calls for them to identify shared objectives and balance current and future needs, while safeguarding their own domains of interest. Successful collaborations require agencies to be open-minded about seeking cross-domain expertise, adopting synergistic approaches and developing structures to encourage cooperation. Being willing to negotiate compromises and put in place rigorous processes to discuss and debate policy and planning considerations helps to ensure that any trade-offs made among the liveability outcomes are well understood and managed.   

Principle 4: Execute Effectively

Singapore’s skyline today reflects the effective implementation of urban renewal plans (Unsplash)

Plans on paper are only effective if, and when, they are successfully implemented. Each part of the planning process needs to be overseen by a government agency with relevant expertise and supported by the coordination of other agencies. This process involves navigating diverse stakeholder requirements and resolving competing interests and tensions; doing otherwise may hamper implementation. Only when plans are well-coordinated and agile in execution can solutions be rolled out effectively.    

Principle 5: Innovate Systemically

Active, Beautiful, and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (Unsplash)

Addressing the increasingly complex issues facing cities today often necessitates innovative systemic solutions that require government agencies to expand their scopes of work and objectives. In Singapore’s case, the agility to think out of the box, coupled with technical expertise, has enabled it to develop sustainable solutions to urban problems, and implement effective policies and programmes to make its limited land area liveable for residents. Being able to innovate systemically is also essential for enhancing Singapore’s global competitiveness, positioning the nation as a thought leader and hub for sustainable solutions.  

To deliver innovative systemic solutions, the innovation process must also be systematic, with structured policy reviews that respond to demographic and economic shifts. Additionally, it must be supported by a culture that encourages progressive innovation towards desired outcomes. This way of working not only encourages the maximisation of scarce resources, it also fosters a nurturing environment to experiment, leading to systems that are “safe to fail” rather than “fail-safe”.