SINGAPORE – Homes in more central locations and plans for recreational spaces are among proposals that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has put forth for its next masterplan, which is due in 2025.

The URA on Thursday said it will engage the public over the next two years as part of the latest review of the masterplan, which sets out land use and development plans for Singapore over the next 10 to 15 years.

Plans for a good mix of public and private housing in more central locations – including the city area, the former Keppel Club site which will form part of the Greater Southern Waterfront, and Turf City in Bukit Timah – are being considered.

A recreational masterplan will also be developed to provide spaces and facilities that are more accessible to the public, to promote active lifestyles and ageing in place.

This is another proposal under the Shape a Happy, Healthy City theme – one of four themes under the Draft Masterplan.

The themes were adapted from the URA’s long-term plan review, which was completed in 2022 and will guide Singapore’s development over the next 50 years.

More than 15,000 Singaporeans took part in engagement sessions where they discussed topics like sustainability and land scarcity.

National Development Minister Desmond Lee said on Thursday that the strategies identified in the long-term plan review will be translated into detailed plans and implemented.

Pointing out the difficulty in managing “many competing needs as well as the increasingly diverse aspirations of Singaporeans”, he said that how the Government chooses to use land “may not necessarily meet everyone’s expectations”.

“But through the process of dialogue and conversation... we hope both planners and our public can better understand the range of different needs and interests, and how they can be appropriately accommodated within our small island city-state.”

Under the second theme of strengthening urban resilience, ideas that could potentially soften the urban heat island effect – where densely built cities experience higher temperatures – are being developed. URA said it will share more details later in 2023.

Agencies will also study various coastal protection measures to protect against rising sea levels and engage stakeholders on some of these plans, the authority added.

URA said it will continue to plan for and optimise the use of underground spaces for infrastructure and utilities to free up land above ground for homes, parks and amenities.

For the third theme of sustainable growth, URA said agencies are working on plans for commercial nodes to bring more jobs and amenities closer to homes.

The Government will focus on developing the Jurong Lake District, the largest commercial node outside the Central Business District, in the next 10 to 15 years. There are also plans to progressively establish Bishan as a commercial and community node, URA added.

The last theme is centred around nature and heritage. Stakeholders will be engaged to refine themes that tell the story of Singapore’s development through built heritage, URA said, referring to buildings or landmarks that form part of local history and identity.

It will also work with the community in 2024 to enhance recreational spaces at various locations along the Kallang River and the Rail Corridor.

A competition to gather ideas for Tanjong Pagar Railway Station will be held in mid-2024.

“Today, we enjoy the fruits of labour from those who came before us. They had the foresight to safeguard options for the future and made sacrifices, trade-offs and hard decisions,” Mr Lee said, noting that Singapore’s transformation had not taken place overnight. “In this same spirit, let us work together to create the Draft Masterplan 2025.”

He was speaking at an event on Thursday to launch the Draft Masterplan 2025 public engagement exercise where he also unveiled five new and improved connections along a cycling route linking Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Gardens by the Bay.

Potong Pasir resident Lim Mei Choo, 64, said younger Singaporeans would benefit from the proposals, especially the ones on housing and urban resilience.

“Because of good planning, we get to live in comfort today. I hope it will continue to be improved so future generations have more choices (of) places to live,” said the housewife.

Ms Sujatha Paramathayalan, 43, head of the English department at St Andrew’s Secondary School, said that when she heard the public would be consulted for the Draft Masterplan, she was keen for her students to volunteer for the sessions.

“It’s a great opportunity for students to share what they would like to see, and take part in planning and shaping the spaces meant for them,” she said.

The public can sign up for engagement activities at www.go.gov.sg/URADraftMasterPlan