Among other things, Singaporeans can look forward to new homes being built in more central locations, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) as it launched the Draft Master Plan 2025 (DMP25) public engagement exercise on Thursday (Oct 5).

The engagement with Singaporeans and stakeholders over the next two years will culminate in a presentation of the DMP25, which will provide details on land use and development plans for Singapore over the next 10 to 15 years.

In the Long-Term Plan Review (LTPR) that concluded last year, URA engaged over 15,000 Singaporeans to reimagine how Singapore can meet its diverse needs over the next 50 years and beyond. 

The LTPR conversations provide a framework for URA to develop seven pillars, which will guide the country’s long-term development strategies.

These include: live, work, play, move, cherish, sustain and steward.

These seven pillars will be translated into four broad themes for DMP25. 

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Shape a happy healthy city: URA said the DMP25 aims to improve housing accessibility and affordability by providing more liveable and inclusive homes, with making spaces more suitable for families, ageing-in-place and active living. The plans will also include enhancing active mobility networks and the rejuvenation of the Housing and Development Board (HDB)’s towns. 

Some of the key proposals include siting new homes and neighbourhoods in more central locations, developing a Recreation Master Plan, and building on the proposals being developed for the Health District @ Queenstown.

Strengthen urban resilience: The plan is to focus on capitalising on Singapore’s sea, underground and underutilised spaces, as well as co-locating multiple uses, said URA. The agency will also be looking to integrate nature-based solutions with infrastructure.

It added that some of the key proposals include studying the measures for coastal protection and heat resilience, and expanding efforts to use underground space.

Enable sustainable growth: The idea is to inject more flexible and mixed-use workspaces in areas such as Jurong Lake District, said the agency. The government is studying launching more sale sites with different lease periods and densities to “foster innovation, adapt to emerging trends and nurture vibrant commercial nodes to bring jobs closer to homes”.

Steward nature and heritage: This theme aims to balance development with nature and heritage assets, to shape a home that is anchored on a strong sense of identity. 

The DMP25 will bring nature closer to people, enhance green and blue spaces, and strengthen the distinctive character and heritage of HDB’s towns. The agency will also further develop the Heritage and Identity Structure Plan that was introduced in the LTPR, as well as new plans to enhance identity corridors, such as the Thomson-Kallang Identity Corridor and Rail Corridor.

Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, launched the public engagement exercise on Thursday morning when he unveiled five new and improved connections under Phase 1 of the Bishan-to-City Links project.

When fully completed, the links will connect communities along the river, providing users a seamless 10 km green commute along the Kallang Park Connector from Bishan to the city.