Opinion: Shaping Our City's Future – Singapore’s Integrated Approach to Planning and Development

By most measures, Singapore has progressed well as an inclusive, attractive and liveable city that thrives economically, while balancing environmental protection. This can be attributed to our comprehensive and integrated approach in planning and development.

Integrated Planning and Development

Taking a Long-Term Approach for Sustainability

Like other cities, we must adapt to rapid technological advancements to capture economic opportunities, while also meeting the rising aspirations and evolving needs of our residents. We need to build resilience to shocks and disruptions, such as pandemics, geopolitical tensions and climate change. Our unique challenges as a small city-state with finite land resources require us to take a long-term approach to chart out our vision and strategies for the future, coupled with regular reviews to meet changing needs and trends.

In the latest Long-Term Plan Review (LTPR), the URA developed broad land-use strategies for the next 50 years and beyond, with inputs from the public and other stakeholders. These strategies enable us to judiciously manage our land resources to meet our diverse needs for present and future generations.

In conducting the LTPR, we identified the trends that will affect the way we live, work and play. To respond to the increasingly dynamic and uncertain future, we decided to take an approach that focused on optionality, flexibility and resilience in drawing up the Long-Term Plan, projecting the possible range of land demand in different scenarios. This new approach enabled us to examine the possible futures in a systematic manner and to identify decisions and strategies to respond to different planning outcomes.

To provide more flexibility, one key move was to earmark large tracts of land as Future Development Areas where the specific mix of land uses will be reviewed closer to implementation. For example, Paya Lebar Air Base will be developed as a new community of the future when the current airbase relocates.

Through the review process, we reaffirmed key planning principles relevant to how we plan for Singapore’s development. These include providing a good quality living environment that promotes the well-being of residents, creating economic opportunities for all as a well-connected hub, and catering for accessible and inclusive spaces to help build stronger communities.

We also deepen our sense of identity and home through distinctive spaces to cherish, by incorporating climate-resilient infrastructure and systems that support sustainable living, and through stewardship of our natural capital to create a greener environment.

From Planning to Implementation

To realise our shared vision for the future, long-term land use strategies are translated into medium-term detailed plans in the Master Plan. The Master Plan provides a clear and transparent guide for development. Approval through the development control process enables the planning intention articulated in the Master Plan to be realised.

Stakeholder and community tours at the LTPR exhibition led by our colleagues and volunteers (Urban Redevelopment Authority)

In addition to the Housing & Development Board (HDB) and JTC Corporation (JTC) developing our public housing estates and industrial parks, the Government Land Sales programme is another key mechanism to implement the plans on the ground, by releasing land in line with planning strategies and development directions.

We need to ensure that infrastructure and utilities are adequate and provided in tandem to support development. Our urban systems have become increasingly interdependent and complex. Since 2015, URA has been working closely with agencies involved in planning developments, major infrastructure networks and community facilities to jointly review their staging plans annually. This proactive approach ensures agencies’ plans remain aligned and facilitates implementation. In addition, it enables the integration and co-location of infrastructure and developments to optimise land use above and below ground.

Engaging Our Stakeholders

We are taking a more inclusive and consultative approach throughout the entire planning and development process. The LTPR was one of our biggest engagements to date, drawing views of over 15,000 people from all walks of life. We are building on this in the public engagement for the Draft Master Plan 2025.

We also gather feedback and insights from the nature and heritage communities, industry professionals, residents and building owners, to map out detailed plans, refine our guidelines and inform near-term land supply strategies.

Research, Data-Driven Insights and Digital Tools

We are adopting a more data-driven approach to provide robust analysis and insights in evaluating planning strategies and options to cater to future needs. Examples include environmental modelling to safeguard wind corridors and accessibility analytics to plan essential services for “10-minute neighbourhoods”.

Wind Analysis Study showing enhancement of wind speeds through Lentor Hills estate before (left) and after (right) the creation of wind corridors (Urban Redevelopment Authority)

To plan and stage new housing and community facilities more responsively, we work with partner agencies to better understand demographic trends, household living arrangements, preferences and patterns of use. This draws on survey findings, census records and other data. One focus area is to provide more age-friendly and inclusive neighbourhoods, for example, through new designs for future nursing homes.

How it All Comes Together

Creating a Vibrant City with Economic Opportunities for All

i Light Singapore at Marina Bay (Urban Redevelopment Authority and i Light Singapore 2022)

To anchor Singapore as an international financial and business hub, Marina Bay is planned as a mixed-use district that is a seamless extension of the existing Central Business District. This distinctive new district has taken shape, with major developments housing key business and financial institutions, as well as cultural and lifestyle attractions. Through placemaking efforts with key stakeholders and partners, Marina Bay has come into its own as a People’s Bay—a popular public space and focal point for celebrations and activities, such as the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown held on New Year’s Eve and i Light Singapore.

Development incentives are in place to encourage the transformation of existing, older office developments into mixed-use projects that are bold and innovative (Adapted from original image from Urban Redevelopment Authority)

Within the city, we have introduced incentive schemes to support the selective rejuvenation and positive transformation of existing built-up areas. These encourage a wider diversity of uses to support more vibrancy both day and night, for example, through the conversion of older office buildings into mixed-use developments. In that process, we enhance the city by introducing public spaces, retail as well as food and beverage amenities, cultural facilities, pedestrian linkages, etc. The schemes also integrate sustainability and other construction industry transformation outcomes.

Developing More Job Nodes to Support Businesses and the Community

We have planned for growth at new business nodes distributed across the island. These are well-served and integrated with transportation networks. They build on Singapore’s polycentric approach to bring workplaces closer to homes. More mixed-use developments in these nodes will provide a wider range of job options and amenities for both workers and residents.

The 410-ha Jurong Lake District (JLD) is the largest of these nodes. Strategically located near key transport nodes, industrial hubs and top educational institutions in the west of Singapore, JLD will support business growth and innovation, with flexible zoning to encourage live-work-play integration. Enhanced connectivity through four MRT lines to the rest of the island, and extensive networks of pedestrian linkages and cycling paths within the district and to surrounding towns, ensure the district remains well-connected and car-lite. Envisioned as a new development model for urban sustainability, district-level urban solutions such as District Cooling and District Pneumatic Waste Conveyance Systems, innovative planning, and more ambitious sustainability targets for all new developments will be implemented to help the district achieve net-zero emissions by around 2045.

Artist’s impression of the future Jurong Lake District, which is envisioned as a model for sustainable development (Urban Redevelopment Authority)

Development is also underway at Punggol Digital District. This is the first Enterprise District, where the master developer, JTC, has the flexibility to vary the mix of land uses in each parcel within the overall quantum at the district level, and curate the tenant mix to respond to evolving business needs. JTC will co-locate its business park workspaces with the learning facilities of the Singapore Institute of Technology’s new campus, creating opportunities for synergy and collaboration.

Making Walking, Cycling and Public Transport More Attractive

To enhance the commuting experience and encourage the shift towards a more sustainable car-lite city, we are working with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to introduce more Transit Priority Corridors, like the North-South Corridor, and to extend cycling path networks in housing towns and routes to the city. We have planned comprehensive underground and aboveground pedestrian networks with covered walkways and linkways in our housing estates, city centre and key business nodes. At the building level, a Walking and Cycling Plan is required for selected developments to ensure that their design considers safety, convenience, and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

Creating a Quality Living Environment with Inclusive and Accessible Amenities

With a focus on liveability, Singapore’s housing towns are planned to provide a good quality living environment with schools, shops, healthcare, community, sports and recreation facilities, as well as parks conveniently located within each town.

Government agencies have worked closely together to plan and implement new typologies for co-locating multiple community facilities, such as Our Tampines Hub, Heartbeat@Bedok and Kampung Admiralty. These optimise the use of land, increase convenience for residents, and are activated with programming to foster community bonds. We are planning ahead for facilities that can be adapted and converted over time in response to changing demographic profiles and needs of the towns.

Kampung Admiralty is an integrated development with apartments for the elderly that are co-located with a medical centre, facilities for childcare and eldercare, and green spaces (Urban Redevelopment Authority)

Stewarding Our Natural Capital to Create a Greener, More Resilient Environment

Even as we develop our city, we have set aside green spaces in the form of parks, nature reserves, nature parks and other green spaces, and linked these up with a network of park connectors. The Rail Corridor, a former railway line spanning 24 km, has become an extensive and inclusive community space with ecological value.

We are developing a deeper understanding of how to sensitively plan and integrate nature when developing greenfield and brownfield sites. Through the findings of the Ecological Profiling Exercise conducted by the National Parks Board (NParks), we will formulate strategies to support ecological connectivity between key natural habitats and strengthen the resilience of our natural ecosystems.

At the building level, integration of greenery and public space are encouraged through the incentives and requirements under the Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises programme. This has contributed to increasing verdant landscaping and skyrise greenery in our urban environment.

Deepening Our Sense of Identity Through Distinctive Spaces

As Singapore continues to develop and grow, the selective conservation of our built heritage helps retain the distinctive character of our city and provides physical markers of our shared memories. We have integrated conserved buildings with new developments, such as at Guoco Midtown, South Beach and Capitol Singapore. With successful and creative adaptive reuse, they will continue to forge new memories for our next generation.

In view of Singapore’s development constraints, we are not able to keep all our old buildings but must calibrate a good balance between conservation and redevelopment. To provide a robust basis for doing so, we carry out detailed studies to identify significant buildings and structures, engage the community and other stakeholders, and consider how to sensitively integrate heritage elements into our city and towns as we develop. Some examples include Farrer Park, where the future housing estate will be integrated with familiar sporting heritage landmarks, and the Golden Mile Complex—one of the most significant modern buildings in Singapore and the first large-scale, strata-titled development to be conserved.

Guoco Midtown is a mixed-use development integrated with the conserved former Beach Road Police Station (GuocoLand)

Integrating Climate-Ready and Sustainable Infrastructure and Systems

To build resilience to climate change, we will leverage our natural capital by intensifying greenery within our urban environment to reduce stormwater run-off and reduce urban heat island effects. We are studying various options to protect our coastline, including the possibility of integrating coastal protection measures, stormwater management systems, and a reservoir with planned future reclamation at Long Island for housing and other uses in the longer term.

Concluding Reflections

Planning remains critical for Singapore as we are a small citystate. Despite the many challenges and uncertainties that we face, taking a long-term and integrated approach remains key for Singapore to continue to be a sustainable and liveable city. This ensures that future needs and opportunities are comprehensively and carefully considered, even as we develop and sensitively rejuvenate our city to meet current needs.

We adopt a holistic perspective with tight coordination across the whole of government, from planning through to implementation. We also involve stakeholders in co-creating and realising our plans.

It is vital that we build in flexibility to adapt to changing needs and withstand occasional shocks. This is coupled with continuous innovation to introduce new urban solutions tomeet evolving needs and make our city more sustainable.

The ability to sense-make changing needs, draw deeper insights and predict outcomes through data analytics, modelling and simulation are important competencies that will help us better optimise and be more responsive to changes.

These are the critical components in Singapore’s planning and development approach that will enable us to optimise the use of our limited resources yet provide an even better living environment that will meet our people’s needs going forward.