Liveability Outcomes and Their Intersections

Integrating nature into the built environment, such as at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, is part of Singapore’s vision to become a City in Nature (Andrew / Redbean)

To achieve a truly liveable city, the Liveability Framework emphasises the need to balance among the three outcomes of a competitive economy, sustainable environment and high quality of life. Given its limited resources and land space, Singapore must always be prepared to optimise resources and reap valuable synergies in its development journey. As Singapore becomes more built up, urban issues will become more complex. Hence, it is important for planning and development to be intentional and adopt a holistic lens to turn cross-domain challenges into opportunities for innovative solutions.

Competitive Economy × High Quality of Life

Singapore’s pursuit of economic competitiveness not only creates a solid foundation for its economy, it allows the city to achieve other liveability goals such as a sustainable environment and high quality of life. While all three of these goals are simultaneously achievable, the city must still weigh the more immediate benefits of economic progress against its longer-term impacts on residents, and Singapore as a whole. 

Maintaining a Competitive and Healthy Workforce

Promoting a high quality of life through equitable access to healthcare and overall well-being is essential for sustaining a productive and competitive economy. In Singapore, where human capital is a key economic driver, investing in physical and mental health, as well as work-life balance, directly supports workforce resilience and productivity.   

Even as Singapore faces the challenges of an ageing population, it recognises the value of older workers and actively supports their continued participation in the economy. Initiatives like the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme provide greater support to mid-career Singaporeans aged 40 and above to upskill and stay relevant, which ensures that the workforce can remain adaptable and resilient to meet evolving economic demands. 

Ensuring a Well-Connected City and Workforce

The 1971 Concept Plan (top) and Transportation Plan (bottom) served as blueprints for Singapore’s early urban development journey

Ensuring seamless, efficient and affordable mobility is fundamental to both quality of life and economic productivity in Singapore. From the 1971 Concept Plan to the current Land Transport Master Plan 2040, Singapore has consistently integrated transport into long-term urban planning. More recent initiatives like the “45-minute city” and “20-minute towns” aim to improve accessibility to daily needs through Walk, Cycle, Ride modes. 

The Land Transport Authority will be working to expand Singapore’s rail network from 270 km today to about 360 km by the early 2030s, and have 8 in 10 households within a 10-minute walk of a train station. By prioritising sustainable transport, and first- and last-mile connectivity, residents are empowered to participate more actively in their social and economic spheres, while doing so in a more sustainable manner.

Balancing Conservation and Redevelopment

The Golden Mile Complex was designed in a Brutalist architecture style and completed in 1973 (Jonathan Lin (CC BY-SA 2.0))

Balancing urban redevelopment with heritage conservation is essential to maintaining a city’s unique identity, while ensuring space to sustain its economic vibrancy. Singapore’s Conservation Master Plan introduced in the 1980s, formally recognised the first 10 conversations areas, like Chinatown and Kampong Gelam. At present, over 7,200 buildings have been gazetted for conservation. These efforts reflect a deep recognition that built heritage captures shared memories and values that unite a multiracial and multicultural society.   

However, there are often economic trade-offs, especially in the context of developing prime urban areas. To navigate this, Singapore’s government partners with the private sector to provide planning incentives and infrastructural support to make large-scale conservation financially viable. A notable example is the Golden Mile Complex, a modernist icon gazetted for conservation, where developers were allowed to add new features while preserving its core structure. This approach exemplifies how Singapore balances the tensions between redevelopment and preserving the city's character, while supporting both economic and spatial transformation.  

Competitive Economy × Sustainable Environment

As Singapore continues to develop, balancing economic competitiveness with environmental sustainability has become increasingly vital. The rise of the green economy offers new opportunities but also brings forth challenges like transitionary costs. Navigating this requires thoughtful planning, innovation, and strong cross-sector collaboration to ensure sustainable and distributed growth. 

Scaling up the Benefits and Managing the Costs of Singapore's Green Transition

Advancing a green economy is central to Singapore’s vision of sustainable growth and environmental leadership. By investing early in clean energy, infrastructure and innovation, Singapore has positioned itself as a global hub for green solutions. Targeted initiatives, such as emission-reduction grants and the Enterprise Sustainability Programme, have paved the way for the decarbonisation of certain industries while supporting opportunities in the green sector.  

However, balancing environmental goals with affordability is key. Incentives and subsidies are necessary to help soften the impact of accompanying transitionary costs. While policies like the carbon tax and water pricing aim to drive early climate-conscious business and consumer decisions, they also result in higher living expenses. Hence, climate vouchers, subsidies for lower-income households and grants for businesses are provided to ease the transition. Through thoughtful planning, financial support and transparent communication, Singapore is working to ensure that sustainability efforts are inclusive, feasible and beneficial for all in society.  

Sustainable Environment × High Quality of Life

As cities worldwide confront the realities of climate change, adapting to its effects while mitigating further impacts requires holistic action. Public awareness around environmental issues is growing, and with it, rising expectations for greener urban environments. The intersection between the two outcomes of a sustainable environment and high quality of life is exemplified through the case of rising temperatures exacerbated by the urban heat island effect in densely built Singapore. This environmental phenomenon directly affects residents’ enjoyment and experience of the city. To navigate such challenges, Singapore must engage its citizens, consider diverse perspectives, and build shared understanding—ensuring that environmental action is both effective and embraced by the community.  

Integrating Greenery into Development

One of Singapore’s strategies to cope with its land constraints is to maximise the use of land, such as at the Marina Barrage which acts as a water source, provides flood control, and offers vibrant spaces for public recreation (Andrew/ Redbean)

To manage land scarcity while meeting evolving needs, Singapore has adopted innovative strategies that optimise space for both utility and quality of life. Multi-use infrastructure like the Park Connector Network and Marina Barrage serves environmental purposes while offering recreational value, demonstrating how underutilised spaces can also be transformed into vibrant community assets.  

However, challenges arise when previously safeguarded green areas are slated for development, prompting public concern over biodiversity loss. In response, the government has strengthened public engagement and environmental safeguards. Agencies now conduct early consultations, assess potential environmental impacts rigorously, and implement community communication measures to ensure that developments are sensitively executed. These efforts reflect a maturing approach to land use — one that seeks to complement urban growth with building environmental stewardship and public trust. 

Utilising Nature to Improve Well-Being and Strengthen Social Cohesion

HortPark is a one-stop destination that offers information, ideas and inspiration for home and community gardeners (Jnzl (CC BY 2.0))

Green spaces are increasingly valued as essential to urban health and liveability. In Singapore, integrating greenery into residential areas and expanding access to natural spaces enhance physical and mental well-being, support social resilience, and strengthen community ties. Initiatives like the National Parks Board’s (NParks) therapeutic gardens provide accessible spaces for relaxation, while the Community in Bloom programme and Allotment Gardening Scheme create opportunities for social interaction and community bonding, while also contributing to food and ecological resilience. These initiatives reflect Singapore’s commitment to effectively leverage greenery to not only improve quality of life but also build long-term social cohesion and sustainability. 

Managing Human-Animal Encounters

Otters at Jurong Lake Gardens (Tan Jun An (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Wikimedia Commons)

Singapore’s extensive greening and expansion of nature parks have boosted wildlife populations and movement, while development has also encroached into green areas, pushing wildlife closer to human habitats and increasing interactions. While most encounters are peaceful, conflicts like attacks and property damage have occurred. To manage this, NParks and conservation groups focus on public education to promote coexistence and discourage behaviors that attract wildlife. Physical measures, such as monkey-proof bins and barriers, have also been introduced. Through community engagement and science-based approaches such as tracking of wildlife movement, Singapore balances species conservation with public safety as it integrates nature into the urban environment. 

Explore the Framework

Click below to find out more about the three main components of the Liveability Framework.

Liveability Outcomes

Supporting Systems

Enablers