URA Master Plan 2014 - North-East Region

A NEW WAY OF LIVING

Residents in the North-East already enjoy a wide range of housing choices, as well as amenities in close proximity to homes. New public and private housing will be introduced to provide greater choice for residents, while new amenities and community facilities will be developed over the next few years to enhance the quality of life.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

1. NEW AND BETTER HOUSING CHOICES
2. REJUVENATING OUR MATURE TOWNS
3. ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE

NEW AND BETTER HOUSING CHOICES

Punggol - Sustainable By Design

In Punggol, new projects with an eco-friendly focus represent a fresh, exciting approach to quality housing. Recently completed homes such as Treelodge@Punggol already incorporate green features such as solar panels and rainwater harvesting.

Overview of Punggol Town
© Housing & Development Board

Future developments in Punggol will build on these eco-friendly design principles. Seven distinct waterfront districts, well-integrated with amenities, will be deveped in the town, each with a unique theme. These districts will also be set amongst greenery and planned for walkability.

Artist's impression of the Punggol Waterway East District
© Housing & Development Board

Artist's impression of the Punggol Crescent District
© Housing & Development Board

New Housing and Enhanced Convenience

In Sengkang, new private homes around Jalan Kayu will be built alongside a network of neighbourhood parks. These homes will reflect the natural charm of the area. A wider range of housing will be developed in other towns, including Serangoon, where new developments such as The Scala (left) and Seletar Park Residences (right) will provide a new set of housing choices for aspiring homeowners.

The Scala                                                           Pool clubhouse F-hires
© Hong Leong Holdings                                   © Tuan Sing Holdings

The Sengkang West area will welcome the addition of new public housing choices that are integrated with common green spaces and precinct amenities. Future residents will find it a breeze to get around with the LRT stations close by. In Sengkang Central, new HDB projects such as Compassvale Boardwalk and Compassvale Mast as well as new private housing including The Luxurie and La Fiesta will provide new homes in the heart of Sengkang within close proximity to Sengkang MRT and the Town Centre

Artist's impression of Compassvale Mast
© Housing & Development Board

REJUVENATING OUR MATURE TOWNS

Teck Ghee Vista
© Housing & Development Board

Enhancing Our Mature Estates

Mature estates like Ang Mo Kio are being revitalised with new housing developments such as Teck Ghee Vista. This development is attractively set amongst lush greenery within close proximity to nearby amenities and public transport. New public housing developments in mature towns will mean that children can have the option to stay closer to their families.

Other towns, such as Hougang, will undergo the Remaking our Heartland (ROH) programme by HDB that will enhance the living experience for residents.

Artist's impression of Remarking our Heartland (ROH) Improvements in Hougang
© Housing & Development Board

Exciting New Districts

New districts, such as the Teacher's Estate area near the future Lentor MRT Station on the Thomson Line will be developed for private housing with shopping amenities and expand the range of housing choices in our mature towns.

ENHANCING QUALITY OF LIFE

Better Amenities & Shopping Destinations

More options for shopping and dining will be added in the North-East. Residents in Sengkang can look forward to easy access to The Seletar Mall in Sengkang West when it opens its doors by 2015. In Punggol, Waterway Point will provide a convenient shopping and lifestyle destination in the town centre. New public housing developments in the North-East now incorporate childcare centres, supermarkets and shop clusters for the convenience of choices for residents.

Artist's impression of Waterway Point
© Far East Organisation

Artist's impression of The Seletar Mall
© Singapore Press Holdings and United Engineers

New Community Facilites

Community facilities will be enhanced with new and innovative integrated developments. In future, Punggol Town Hub will serve as a one-stop amenities hub with an integrated community centre, hawker centre, library and other community facilities. Over at Hougang Avenue 9, residents can look forward to the new Ci Yuan Community Club that will incorporate a hawker centre.

Artist's impression of Punggol Town Hub
© Housing & Development Board

Artist's impression of the Ci Yuan Community Club
© People's Association

To serve the needs of the growing community in the North-East, a regional hospital at Anchorvale Street in Sengkang will be operational by 2018. In addition, Punggol Polyclinic will be built close to Oasis LRT station, providing affordable healthcare options for residents.

Artist's impression of Sengkang General Hospital
© Ministry of Health

ENHANCING CONNECTIVITY

Residents of the North-East Region will benefit from easier journeys and shorter travel times as significant improvements to public transport and roads are implemented over the next 10 years.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

1. RAMPING UP PUBLIC TRANSPORT
2. BOOSTING SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
3. IMPROVING ROAD NETWORKS

RAMPING UP PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Enhancing Our MRT Network

The continued expansion of the MRT network will increase connectivity and cut journey times. The Thomson Line (TSL), which will be opened in phases starting from 2019, will link key areas in the North East such as Lentor and Mayflower with the CBD. The extension of the North East Line to Punggol North will be completed by 2030. Coupled with the addition of more trains, this will improve the accessibility of new growth areas and reduce peak-hour waiting times. 

Sengkang MRT Station
© Comfort DelGro

The Cross Island Line (CRL), which will also commence operations around 2030, will connect many areas in the North East, including Ang Mo Kio and Punggol, to the eastern and western parts of Singapore

Better Interchanges and Bus Services

Besides the enhanced rail network, residents in the region will benefit from increased bus capacity under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme, as well as the completion of a new integrated transport hub (ITH) in Hougang and a new bus interchange at Buangkok that will provide seamless movement between the buses, trains and the adjoining commercial developments. The Hougang ITH will include a bus interchange, retail space and residences

Punggol Bus Interchange
© Comfort DelGro

BOOSTING SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

New Cycling Networks

In line with efforts to promote cycling as an alternative mode of transport, the Punggol Eco-Town Cycling Network will be developed to provide a safe and continuous network of cycling paths in Punggol, linking housing, amenities and workplaces together. Besides providing residents with greater transport choice, this will help to reduce carbon emissions and improve the efficiency of the road network. In Hougang, the Defu Industrial Park will be built with cycling in mind, integrated with cycle paths set within a lush, green landscape.

Artist's impression of Cycling Paths in the Defu Industrial Park
© Housing & Development Board

IMPROVING ROAD NETWORKS

Improved Expressways and Local Roads

The North South Expressway (NSE) to be completed by 2020 will significantly reduce journey times from the North East to the CBD, while the Punggol Semi-Expressway will increase east-west connectivity within the region

In addition, localised road improvements will be implemented to improve traffic flow and shorten journey times.

NEW JOBS AND GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AT HAND

The North-East is a region that enjoys a good mix of retail, office and other employment spaces. As part of our plans to bring jobs closer to homes, office, retail, industrial and other business spaces in the North-East will grow, providing skilled employment options as well as greater convenience for residents.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

1. NEW CENTRES FOR GROWTH
2. NURTURING NEW INDUSTRIES

NEW CENTRES FOR GROWTH

Punggol Creative Cluster and Learning Corridor

As part of the North Coast Innovation Corridor, Punggol is set to be transformed with the introduction of a Creative Cluster, a space for innovative new industries and employment opportunities.

Alongside the Cluster, a Learning Corridor will see the addition of a new tertiary institution, which will act as a catalyst for growth and forge fresh synergies with industries and the community.

Artist's impression of Punggol Creative Cluster

Serangoon Sub-Regional Centre

New commercial developments will be added to the Serangoon Sub-Regional Centre, providing businesses with alternative locations for office space outside the city. With this, residents in the North-East can expect better access to employment opportunities and more amenities.

Artist's impression of Serangoon Sub-Regional Centre

NURTURING NEW INDUSTRIES

Lorong Halus & Defu Industrial Parks

Lorong Halus will be Singapore's first industrial park built on a former landfill site and will be sensitively designed to incorporate greenery. The new Defu will be pedestrian-centric with a continuous, linear green spine that weaves through the industrial park. The green spine will also be an enjoyable route for walking and cycling, with landscaped greenery and environmentally sustainable features.

Artist’s impression of the proposed Defu Industrial Park
© Housing & Development Board

Seletar Aerospace Park

Seletar is currently home to leading firms such as Rolls-Royce Group, ST Aerospace and Eurocopter. The Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP) is gearing up for Phase 3 of its development. When SAP is fully completed, it will create up to 10,000 jobs and generate highly-skilled employment opportunities.

Seletar Aerospace Park
© Eurocopter South East Asia

Business Aviation Complex at Seletar Aerospace Park

GREENING THE NORTH-EAST

Residents in the North-East Region enjoy access to major parks and green spaces such as the Punggol Waterway and Sengkang Riverside Park. In the coming years, they will benefit from the addition of more neighbourhood parks, a new regional park on Coney Island and park connectors that will link up to the Round Island Route.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

1. LANDMARK PARKS2. MORE GREEN AND BLUE SPACES
3. GREEN CONNECTIONS

LANDMARK PARKS

Our Rustic Playground – Pulau Ubin

Pulau Ubin is today a much-treasured nature haven in Singapore, with mangroves and waterbodies set amidst lush forests. The island will continue to be kept as a rustic playground for Singaporeans, with carefully planned improvement works to create more opportunities for recreation and nature enjoyment.

This will allow for greater appreciation of the island’s natural attractions, while at the same time enhancing biodiversity and preserving the unique characteristics that make Ubin a key area of natural beauty. The area currently used by Outward Bound Singapore will be opened up for organised visits for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Boardwalk at Pulau Ubin    

Rustic scenes at Pulau Ubin

Waterfront activities at Pulau Ubin

Bringing Nature Closer to Homes – Coney Island Park

A new rustic park on Coney Island in Punggol will be completed by 2015, providing an enchanting back-to-nature haven away from the bustle of mainland Singapore. The park will be well integrated with the wider park connector network within the North-East, with easy access to the upcoming Round Island Route as well as the North Eastern Riverine Loop

    
© National Parks Board

MORE GREEN AND BLUE SPACES

New Neighbourhood Parks

To give residents more convenient access to local parks, new neighbourhood parks will be introduced in areas such as Hougang, Sengkang East and Jalan Kayu. The future Serangoon North Linear Park will be extended on Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 and the future Teacher’s Estate Park near Lentor Drive will provide new and interesting green spaces for residents

Luxus Hills Park

New Waterfront Green Spaces

Catering to Singaporeans’ love for waterfront activities, Lorong Halus Park will be planned to capitalise on its location next to Sungei Serangoon. In Hougang, canals and waterways, including Sungei Pinang, will be transformed through PUB’s ABC Waters Programme into attractive new recreation venues that will also provide seamless connections to local parks

Punggol Waterway

GREEN CONNECTIONS

Park Connectors & The Round Island Route

Park connectors in the North-East Region will be extended, bringing residents closer to new and existing parks.

Cycling and Jogging at Punggol Waterway

The upcoming Round Island Route will pass through the North-East region, incorporating the region’s historic landmarks in Seletar and linking up popular leisure spots such as Sengkang Riverside Park and Punggol Promenade.

SHOWCASING UNIQUE HERITAGE

The North East is a region rich in heritage and memories, with many places that have developed their own character over time, such as Jalan Kayu and Serangoon Garden. The identity of distinctive places in the region will be preserved and strengthened by conserving valuable buildings and enhancing the unique character of each neighbourhood.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

1. ENHANCING IDENTITY NODES
2. CONSERVING HERITAGE AREAS
3. ENRICHING PUBLIC SPACES

ENHANCING IDENTITY NODES

Serangoon Gardens

Serangoon Garden will be added to URA’s list of identity nodes – places that are recognised for their unique charm. In line with this designation, a Street Block Plan will guide the permissable height and form of developments in the area to preserve the charming low-rise character of the area. More studies will be carried out to explore ways to further enhance the area’s character

Aerial view of Serangoon Garden

Serangoon Garden Circus

     

Jalan Kayu

Jalan Kayu has also been recognised as a new identity node and will see significant improvements in its physical environment, through the joint efforts of URA, local residents and businesses as well as the wider community. To enhance the pedestrian experience at Jalan Kayu, a new pedestrian pavement and additional landscaping will be introduced

Artist’s impression of Jalan Kayu

Old Punggol Road

The scenic Old Punggol Road will be pedestrianised in future and turned into a heritage trail. This will allow residents to enjoy more recreational activities such as leisurely strolls, jogging and cycling amidst the lush green setting

Artist’s Impression of the Old Punggol Road Heritage Trail
© Housing & Development Board

CONSERVING HERITAGE AREAS

Heritage Buildings in Seletar

Two buildings within The Oval and two former military buildings in Seletar have been conserved to serve as physical reminders of the area’s history as an RAF airbase. To encourage more people to connect with the area’s past, these colonial buildings will be put to adaptive re-use, which may include shops, restaurants and cafes that will capitalise on the distinct qualities of the area.

Former military building in Seletar

Heritage buildings at The Oval

ENRICHING PUBLIC SPACES

Artist’s impression of Market Square at Kovan City
© Housing & development Board

As part of HDB’s Remaking our Heartland (ROH) programme for Hougang, Upper Serangoon Road will be enhanced as a heritage corridor that showcases its rich history with identity markers.

Residents can look forward to enhancements to the pedestrian experience and greenery along Hougang Central and the creation of new public spaces such as the Market Square at Kovan City.

In Punggol, a new Town Square will provide a central focal point for the town and will serve as a gathering space for the community.

Artist’s impression of Punggol Town Square
© Housing & Development Board

Source: URA (6 Jun 2014)