URA launches request for proposal for Jurong Lake District Master Plan

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launched a Request for Proposal (RFP) on Monday, inviting multi-disciplinary teams to develop master plan proposals for Singapore's Jurong Lake District. This signals the first step of the area's transformation into "A district of the future", and the city-state's second Central Business District (CBD), URA said in a release.

The teams are expected to comprise mainly architects, urban planners, urban designers, engineers and transport planners and a key focus of this master planning exercise involves developing proposals for a third new precinct within the district - Lakeside Gateway. The earlier two precincts are the commercial hub of Jurong Gateway and the Lakeside leisure precinct.

Lakeside Gateway has been envisioned as a new mixed-use business precinct and home to the future Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) terminus, which will anchor Jurong Lake District as "A district of the future" and Singapore's second CBD.

Lakeside Gateway is a 112-hectare site located between Jurong Gateway and Lakeside. URA said Lakeside Gateway has potential for four million to five million square metres of total gross floor area. Possible developments here could include offices, business facilities, retail, entertainment, food and beverage, quality waterfront homes, hotels, recreational facilities and inclusive public spaces.

Jurong Lake District is a regional centre in the west, planned as part of URA's decentralisation efforts to create new commercial activities, more quality jobs, amenities, and recreational options closer to homes.

Last year's announcement that the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR terminus will be sited in Jurong Lake District dovetails with the plans to comprehensively redevelop the area surrounding the future HSR terminus, and is an excellent opportunity to link up the terminus with surrounding developments, existing and new MRT lines, a new integrated transport hub next to Jurong East MRT Station, and pedestrian connections throughout the district, said URA.

URA and the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee chaired by National Development Minister Lawrence Wong have also developed a set of goals to guide the master planning of Jurong Lake District. These include having adaptable spaces for the future economy,with shorter business cycles and businesses having to adopt rapidly emerging technologies and more flexible business models. The district will consist of a core area around the HSR terminus that will comprise high-quality office spaces with mixed uses.

This core area will be surrounded by clusters of new business parks that provide flexible and adaptable work spaces for a good mix of complementary businesses and services of varying sizes. Examples include research and development facilities, educational and training institutes, small and mid-sized firms, business incubators, and investment firms. This will create a diverse and highly connected ecosystem that promotes knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaborations between businesses within the district and beyond, and facilitate them in meeting their evolving needs in the future economy.

Jurong Lake District will be a vibrant 24/7 hub offering retail, entertainment and leisure options outside working hours as well as quality new homes, inclusive public spaces, and recreational facilities for the community to enjoy, said URA. Another interesting goal is a more aggressive public transport mode share that will be higher than the national target of 75 per cent by 2030.

Participating teams for the RFP will be developing proposals for nine components of the Jurong Lake District Master Plan:-

(1) Detailed master plan for Lakeside Gateway, including strategies to seamlessly integrate the new precinct with the Jurong Gateway and Lakeside precincts, as well as the Teban Gardens and Pandan Gardens area to the south;

(2) Strategies to shape a distinctive identity for Jurong Lake District;

(3) Possible revisions to land uses of surrounding areas that will strengthen the position of Jurong Lake District as Singapore's second CBD. Examples of these areas are Jurong West to the west, and Teban Gardens and Pandan Gardens to the south;

(4) Car-lite and connectivity plans for Jurong Lake District and its surroundings. Examples include a comprehensive network of infrastructure and facilities catering to active mobility options - for example, walking, cycling and personal mobility devices - that link up to existing and future developments throughout the district;

(5) Urban design guidelines, landscaping and public space strategies, and plans to create, improve, and integrate green and blue spaces;

(6) Plans for the adaptive reuse of the former Jurong Town Hall and current Science Centre buildings, to strengthen the heritage memories of Jurong;

(7) Plans for possible district-level infrastructure, utilities and urban systems. These would include a district cooling system, common services tunnel, pneumatic refuse conveyance system, and urban logistics;

(8) An underground space plan catering to different uses throughout the district with the aim of optimising overall land use and improving pedestrian experience in underground spaces; and

(9) Environmental sustainability strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve energy efficiency, resource usage, and overall thermal comfort throughout the district.

The RFP comprises two stages. Interested teams are first required to submit their interest to participate in the RFP. Up to five shortlisted teams will then develop their Concept Master Plans for Jurong Lake District. The team with the best Concept Master Plan will be appointed in February 2017, and work with URA and partner agencies to draw up the Draft Master Plan for the district. There will be a public exhibition of the Draft Master Plan around the third quarter of next year. After that, the appointed team will work with URA to refine the plans.

To ensure that the plans are inclusive and relevant to the needs of the community, said URA, the public will be invited to give their feedback on the Draft Master Plan during the exhibition period. At the same time, URA will engage the relevant stakeholders, partner agencies, and the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee to gather their input on the plans.

Following that, URA will work closely with the appointed team to refine the Draft Master Plan, based on the feedback received. "The implementation of the Jurong Lake District Master Plan will then be studied carefully, taking into consideration various factors including the broader plans of surrounding areas, development of other projects in the district, and the needs of the community," said URA.

Mr Wong said: "This is only the start of a very exciting transformation. We look forward to working closely with professionals and the public to shape an outstanding plan, and will engage extensively to realise the vision for the district.

"We have an exceptional opportunity to transform Jurong Lake District into 'A District of the Future' and our second CBD, which will redefine the way we live, work and play."

As a CBD in the heartlands, the district will drive Singapore's growth in the future economy, and cater to the diverse needs of businesses, residents, visitors, and Singaporeans from all walks of life, Mr Wong added. "It will be a distinctive new gateway to Singapore, distinguished by its high connectivity, accessibility and environmentally friendly features, where smart and green mobility options are the choice modes of commute."

The district will be a hub for smart innovations, and home to sustainable urban infrastructure that will boost productivity and manpower efficiency - in addition to standing out as a "delightful and inclusive destination" for the community, defined by its greenery, extensive water bodies, built heritage, and vibrant public spaces.