Liveability Framework : Part 4 – Integrated Master Planning and Development

The refreshed Liveability Framework (LF) was launched at the World Cities Summit in June 2024. This is the fourth of a 10-part series to introduce the various components of the Framework. Integrated Master Planning. Integrated Master Planning and Development is one of the three systems underpinning the liveability framework. Explore the key principles guiding Singapore's urban development and planning process over the years here.

Introduction

Liveability in urban environments is not a static concept. It is a continuously evolving construct that changes with each city’s development phase and is shaped by emerging individual perceptions and aspirations on urban lived experiences, as well as dynamic external forces. Responding to current and emerging challenges, the Liveability Framework serves as a practical but non-prescriptive reference for city leaders, policymakers and planners to plan liveable and sustainable cities of the future.

In the above LF diagram, the three critical liveability outcomes – Competitive Economy, High Quality of Life and Sustainable Environment - are represented as intersecting circles. Collectively, they establish a holistic urban ecosystem that contributes to overall liveability in a city over the long run. Surrounding these is a "ring" structure consisting of three complementary systems - Integrated Master Planning and Development, Dynamic Urban Governance, and Collaborative Ecosystem - that provide the enabling conditions to achieve and sustain these outcomes.

Integrated Master Planning and Design

Singapore's land and resource scarcity has necessitated that it adopts an integrated approach to master planning and development to ensure that its long-term needs can be met. Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority, this broadly comprises the Long-Term Plan, Master Plan, development control and government land sales regimes. As Singapore’s urban landscape matures with less room to manoeuvre, planning challenges have intensified. This calls for a more responsive and adaptive approach to planning and development that also builds up our resilience.

Some key challenges faced include:

1. Evolving aspirations and expectations of the population, driven by demographic shifts and increasing urban density, that can lead to social tensions or fragmentation;

2. The need to build up our planning and infrastructural resilience to ensure longer term adaptability; and

3. Balancing robustness in our planning and regulatory processes, while maintaining Singapore’s competitiveness.

Given the complexity of urban challenges, Singapore has shifted away from single-trajectory projections and towards a more scenario-based planning paradigm. This approach enhances our land use optionality, enables more upfront identification of stakeholders, and facilitates earlier management of potential policy trade-offs.

The 5 Principles

There are 5 implicit principles that underpin Integrated Master Planning and Development as a supporting system in the Liveability Framework:

1. Think Long Term:
   Taking a long-term view in planning has enabled Singapore to manage its limited land resource more judiciously for sustainable development. As the pace of urban change accelerates, urban planners are now considering multiple planning pathways and a range of possible outcomes to ensure we are well-positioned to tap on new opportunities when they arise.
   
   This forward-looking approach must be built on a shared understanding between policymakers and the private and people sectors, particularly when that are trade-offs between current and longer-term needs. Hence, over the last decade, policymakers and planners have stepped up on public engagement efforts which not only focus on nearer term development plans, but also spotlight long-term strategic issues and explore joint solutions, e.g. as part of Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Long-Term Plan Review and upcoming Draft Master Plan Review 2025. These efforts aim to inspire the broader population so that they can become active stewards of Singapore's limited resources for generations to come.
   

2. Build for Resilience
   Apart from enhancing planning resilience through scenario-based approaches, Singapore has also sought to build up resilience in three other domains. First, infrastructural resilience through adaptable designs, including the exploration of the use of underground space and air-based mobility options. Second, strengthening social resilience through more regular public engagement efforts to foster community ownership of solutions. Finally, cultivating flexibility and openness in the mindset of policymakers to encourage regular reviews of current policies and readiness for change. This comprehensive approach to resilience development ensures that Singapore can adapt to emerging challenges while maintaining its long-term strategic vision.
   

3. Seek “Win-Win”
   As Singapore’s existing infrastructure age and available greenfield sites becomes increasingly scarce, there are mounting challenges in achieving its development and rejuvenation goals. In this context, focusing on integrated solutions has proved to be virtuous as it requires agencies to look beyond their functional domains and performance indicators and collaborate more closely for “win-win” outcomes, despite resource limitations. By doing so, agencies identify shared objectives, draw on cross-domain expertise, and pool their stakeholder networks to develop more comprehensive solutions.
   
   However, inter-agency collaborations are not without their pitfalls. For such partnerships to succeed, agencies must be open-minded in order to reconcile policy differences and seek out planning synergies. This often requires acquiring new expertise, negotiating compromises and trade-offs, and developing systemic structures that encourage and facilitate collaboration. For example, Singapore’s integrated transport nodes were only made possible through the collaborative efforts between Land Transport Authority, Urban Redevelopment Authority and Housing Development Board, in ensuring that high-density developmental corridors were aligned with key transport networks, by synchronising new township developments with transportation infrastructure.
   

4. Execute Effectively
   Integrative solutions for complex urban challenges are only effective when successfully implemented. However, translating solutions into outcomes is challenging, as agencies are often required to manage diverse stakeholders and resolve tensions arising from divergent interests. Some of these could result in more protracted and cumbersome planning processes. For instance, each aspect of the planning process may be overseen by a different domain agency - whether evaluating environmental impact assessments or ensuring adequate safety buffers are met. Without close coordination and collaboration between agencies, these layers of planning requirements and regulations may inadvertently prolong the implementation process.
   

5. Innovate Systematically
   The increasing complexity of urban challenges also demands innovative, systemic solutions. To facilitate this, government agencies must expand their scope and objectives, combining agility to innovate with technical expertise to overcome Singapore’s resource constraints. One example is the creation of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park through the bold and creative reimagination of the functional drainage canals for multi-use by several agencies, where flood control infrastructure is integrated seamlessly with lush green planting and park facilities to deliver a people-centric public space.
   
   This constant drive to innovate has positioned Singapore as a global thought-leader in sustainable urban solutions. To maintain our competitive edge and innovative spirit, existing policies and approaches must be regularly reviewed in light of demographic and economic shifts.

Conclusion:

Singapore's urban planning system has evolved over the years to address increasingly complex issues, and the urban development journey exemplifies the significance of adopting integrated master planning and development principles. Given land scarcity, these principles have been tested but remain relevant and critical for sustainable development. Apart from these, translating plans into reality and delivering liveable outcomes require political will, stable governance, and multi-sectoral investment; in other words, they must be complemented by good urban governance and a collaborative ecosystem (systems to be covered in the next two editions).

For more information on the Liveability Systems in the Liveability Framework, please refer to Chapter 3: The Supporting Systems, here [PDF, 15 MB].

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