Government announces plans for Jurong Lake District

Channel NewsAsia 4 Apr 08;

"It's just that because Jurong has a lot of industries, people may have the sense that the air quality is poorer compared to other estates. But if you look at it from the safety point of view, it is not worse than other parts of Singapore."

Nature Society president Geh Min said: 'I am happy to hear the mention of wetlands. I don't think there will be an issue with the loss of natural environment.'

SINGAPORE: Singapore is planning to have its very own lake district in Jurong, which will be a magnet for business and leisure.

The Jurong Lake District – made up of two precincts, Jurong Gateway and Lakeside – will offer a potential development area of 360 hectares or about the size of Marina Bay.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan announced this when he unveiled the government's Draft Master Plan 2008 on Friday. This plan will guide Singapore's land use over the next 10 to 15 years.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said the Jurong Lake District is expected to attract investments worth billions of dollars.

Under the proposed plan, some 750,000 square metres of land will be set aside at Jurong Gateway for offices, hotels, food and beverage, and entertainment uses.

It is also expected to add about 2,800 hotel rooms, equivalent to the hotel belt at the Singapore River area. Land to build 1,000 new private homes will be available as well.

The URA said the Jurong Gateway is set to be the biggest commercial hub outside the city centre – nearly 2.5 times the size of the Tampines Regional Centre.

Lakeside, which is the other component of the Jurong Lake District, has been earmarked to be the next waterfront playground.

Urban planners said there will be plenty of leisure options there, including nature-themed and edu-tainment attractions.

But the centrepiece will be a new world-class Science Centre to be located next to the Chinese Garden MRT station.

Visitors can also look forward to lush greenery and water-based activities like kayaking and dragon boating at Lakeside.- CNA/so

Blueprint for Jurong unveiled
URA website 4 Apr 08;
URA plans to transform Jurong Lake District into a unique lakeside destination for business and leisure

As part of the Draft Master Plan 2008 Review, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) today announced the blueprint for Jurong Lake District. The vision for Jurong Lake District is to transform it into a unique lakeside destination for business and leisure in the next 10 to 15 years.

The blueprint for Jurong Lake District was unveiled by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development, at URA’s annual corporate plan seminar today attended by about 500 developers, architects, other industry players and URA staff at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.

Jurong Lake District

Jurong Lake District consists of two complementary precincts, Jurong Gateway and Lakeside. These refer to the areas around the Jurong East MRT Station and Jurong Lake in the west region of Singapore.

The key proposals for the Jurong Lake District are as follows:

• The area around the Jurong East MRT Station (to be known as Jurong Gateway) will be developed into an attractive commercial hub serving the west region, outside the city centre
• A new and unique leisure destination will be created around Jurong Lake (to be known as Lakeside) with edutainment attractions for the whole family
• Jurong Lake will be brought closer to Jurong Gateway through the introduction of possible new waterways and pedestrian linkages
• The sense of greenery will be heightened with new landscaped open spaces and park connectors at the street-level and skyrise greenery in buildings
• An integrated network of pedestrian walkways between buildings and public facilities will be created

“Jurong Gateway and Lakeside are precious gems which offer exciting opportunities for the development of leisure attractions and the biggest commercial hub outside the city centre. To realise this vision, the planners have developed strategies that capitalise on the wonderful assets these areas have. These include building upon the strategic location of Jurong Gateway which is well served by road and rail, and in the midst of a large population and customer catchment. The lake and its greenery are also unique features which can be enhanced. We would like to bring about a transformed image for this area. The Jurong Lake District will become a much sought after lakeside destination for business and leisure.” said Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, URA’s Chief Executive Officer.

The total potential area for development is 360 hectares, close to the size of Marina Bay.

Please refer to Annex 1 for the site plan and artist impressions showing the key plans for Jurong Lake District.

Jurong Gateway: Biggest commercial hub outside the city

Located around the Jurong East MRT Station, the new plans for the 70 ha Jurong Gateway is to develop it into a vibrant commercial hub with a good mix of office, retail, residential, hotel, entertainment, food & beverage and other complementary uses. It will be the biggest commercial hub outside the city centre.

Jurong Gateway is one of the three regional centres identified under the Concept Plan 1991, as part of a decentralisation strategy to sustain Singapore’s growth. While Marina Bay and the city remain as the main commercial centres, new commercial hubs like Jurong Gateway will also be developed outside the city centre to provide more choices of attractive business locations and bring jobs closer to homes. The other two regional centres are Tampines and Woodlands.

Jurong Gateway offers a highly attractive location outside the Central Business District for company headquarters, business services as well as companies in the science and technology sectors. Companies that set up their offices at Jurong Gateway will be able to:

• gain ready access to a large labour and customer pool from more than one million residents in the surrounding towns of Clementi, Bukit Batok, Jurong East and Jurong West

• enjoy the close proximity to a substantial cluster of multinational and global businesses of more than 3,000 companies around the International Business Park and the Jurong and Tuas Industrial Estates

• tap on a large talent pool from the many surrounding tertiary institutions and research hubs like the Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, One-North and the Science Park

Jurong Gateway is already a major transport hub. The Jurong East MRT station is the interchange station for the East-West and North-South MRT lines. It is well served by three MRT stations and a bus interchange. Jurong Gateway is also well connected to the rest of the island by two major expressways. It is only about 20 minutes away from the city centre by car or train and just 15 minutes to the Second Link.

More new spaces to come

With more than 50 ha of vacant land available for development, Jurong Gateway will provide about 750,000 sq m of commercial space, more than two and a half times the size of Tampines Regional Centre today. The 750,000 sq m of commercial space consist of:

• 500,000 sq m of office space and
• 250,000 sq m of retail, food & beverage and entertainment space

About 2,800 hotel rooms will also be introduced at the fringe of Jurong Gateway, next to Lakeside, to meet the increasing demand for hotel rooms and to cater to the new leisure attractions and businesses that will be introduced around Jurong Lake and Jurong Gateway.

In addition to the commercial space, at least 1,000 new homes will be added around the Jurong East MRT station, providing more opportunities to live and work in the area.

Seamless connections, more greenery

Singaporeans and visitors can look forward to seamless connections and more greenery at Jurong Gateway.

From Jurong East MRT station, pedestrians can walk conveniently and comfortably to most developments and public facilities around the area through an extensive network of walkways. They can also stroll to attractions at Jurong Lake area through a new pedestrian walkway.

There will be an experience of lush greenery with new landscaped open spaces and park connectors introduced at the street-level. Skyrise and rooftop greenery will also be encouraged on many of the buildings in the area.

Key buildings will have scenic views of the lake. For example, buildings around the Jurong East MRT station will step down towards the lake, allowing most developments to have panoramic views of the lake.

Lakeside: New waterfront playground

Jurong Lake and the area around it, known as Lakeside, is the other area in the Jurong Lake District. Spread over 220 ha of land and 70 ha of water, Lakeside is envisaged to be developed into a major leisure destination for Singaporeans and tourists. The attractions at Jurong Lake will be differentiated from others located in Marina Bay, Southern Waterfront and Mandai.

Singaporeans can look forward to enjoy greater access to the lake with additional green spaces and new attractions around the lake for the whole family.

Bringing the lake closer

There will be greater access to the lake from Jurong Gateway. One idea is to create new waterways to bring the experience of the lake closer to the main commercial hub. Another idea is to create a landscaped walkway from Jurong Gateway to the Lakeside.

New green spaces, better access to the lake

A new public park will be developed at the western edge of Jurong Lake, next to Lakeside MRT station. The waterfront promenade along Jurong Lake will be enhanced as well, making it easier and more pleasant for residents and visitors to enjoy breathtaking views of the lake.

New water activities like kayaking and dragon-boating will be introduced in the lake by the end of 2008 as part of Public Utilities Board (PUB)’s Active Beautiful Clean programme. PUB will also be implementing more public amenities such as boardwalks, fishing points, wetlands and water features at selected stretches of the lake by the end of 2009 to allow people to enjoy more of the lake.

New attractions around the lake

Land is available for four to five attractions around the lake catering to families with young children. Possible attractions could be those with edutainment theme or nature-based attractions leveraging on the lake, or attractions with hotels, food & beverage and retail uses. They will complement the attractions that are already in Jurong, for example, the Jurong Bird Park, Science Centre and Singapore Discovery Centre. Blending in with the garden and lake settings, these new attractions will offer fresh recreational opportunities around the lake.

The first anchor attraction is the new world class Science Centre. It will be moved next to the Chinese Garden MRT station. The new Science Centre will not only be bigger and more accessible, the new location also provides exciting opportunities to extend the learning experiences beyond the centre to the lake and surrounding green spaces.

A new lakeside village will be created next to the Jurong Lake. Just 10 minutes walking distance away from Jurong Gateway, the village offers an alternative shopping and dining experience, with food & beverage, retail and entertainment uses and boutique hotels by the lakeside. This village will be connected to Jurong Gateway through a network of walkways, making it a natural gathering place for residents, visitors and people working nearby.

The existing Chinese and Japanese Gardens will have added new facilities and activities to make them more attractive for both residents and tourists to enjoy.

All the attractions around the Jurong Lake will be developed with a sensitive approach to the surrounding environment and natural greenery. Residents and visitors will continue to have access to the water body and enjoy the lush landscaping and serenity of the gardens.

About the Draft Master Plan 2008

The blueprint for Jurong Lake District is part of URA’s Draft Master Plan 2008. It includes feedback from prior consultation done by URA with key stakeholders, community leaders and industry players. The public and community can give their feedback on the draft plans during the Draft Master Plan 2008 exhibition in May 2008.

The Master Plan is the statutory land use plan that URA develops to guide Singapore’s development over the next 10 to 15 years. It is reviewed every five years, and translates the broad long-term strategies as set out in the Concept Plan into detailed plans for implementation.

The Draft Master Plan 2008 will continue to focus on providing Singaporeans with a good quality of life with more recreational choices and better living environments.

A key focus of the Draft Master Plan 2008 is also to continue to sustain Singapore’s economy with new growth areas like the Ophir-Rochor corridor and Jurong East. Beyond the Marina Bay and city centre as the main commercial centres for Singapore, more commercial hubs will be developed outside the city centre to accommodate new growth.

The full Draft Master Plan 2008 is currently being reviewed and will be unveiled in May 2008. The last review was done in 2003.

Jurong ulu no more
Suburb to become commercial, leisure lakeside heaven
Loh Chee Kong, Today Online 5 Apr 08;

DUSTY. Industrial. Out of the way.

Such words may spring to your mind when asked about Jurong. But come 2020, the home of the Bird Park and the Science Centre will evoke a whole new vocabulary.

Try on for size: Lakeside haven. Billion-dollar business buzz. Holiday hub.

This will be the new Jurong Lake District, after it undergoes an ambitious transformation into the largest commercial hub outside of the Central Business District (CBD) — complete with 2,800 new hotel rooms, a number which rivals that of the entire hotel belt at the Singapore River.

At the heart of the district — bounded by Yuan Ching Road, Ayer Rajah Expressway and the MRT line running through the Jurong East, Chinese Garden and Lakeside MRT stations — will be the 70-hectare Jurong Lake and its sprawling greenery.

Tourists will be enticed with a laidback experience at the lakeside F&B village and hotels. The lake itself will be deepened for water activities such as kayaking and dragonboating, and new waterways carved out and an elevated walkway built to "bring closer" the MRT station and bus interchange. Visitors taking the 10-minute "seamless" walk can stop and shop at retail and F&B outlets along the way.

Another old neighbourhood icon will be revamped, too — the Singapore Science Centre will be relocated next to the Chinese Garden MRT station.

This leisurely atmosphere will also have a cutting-edge buzz to it.

Equalling the size of Marina Bay, the new commercial hub is expected to attract investments worth billions of dollars. It incorporates the Jurong Gateway precinct, a high-rise commercial and a retail hub around the Jurong East MRT station that will boast offices, hotels, food and beverage outlets and entertainment venues.

Within the district, land to build 1,000 private homes will be available as well.

Describing Jurong as "a gem that has yet to be uncovered and refined", National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan acknowledged that Jurong — earmarked from its birth in 1961 as an industrial estate — has struggled to shake off the unflattering associations.

"Many of us still see Jurong East as a suburban residential area, far away from the city centre — quite 'ulu' (remote), in fact. It is rarely thought of as a major leisure destination," he said.

But in truth, it has plenty of potential, with a population catchment of more than a million residents, including those from nearby towns Clementi, Bukit Batok and Jurong West.

Moreover, the area is home to more than 3,000 companies. Its proximity to the tertiary institutions and research hubs means Jurong East is "an ideal place for businesses dealing with research and cutting edge technology", said Mr Mah.

He announced the Jurong makeover on Friday as part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Draft Master Plan. Since 1991, the URA has embarked on projects to build regional centres in areas such as Tampines and Woodlands, to ease congestion in the CBD. Plans are in the pipeline for Bugis and Kallang also.

Even as the Government has deferred $2-billion worth of construction projects, Mr Mah said the Jurong makeoever was given the go-ahead after taking into consideration the effects on the construction crunch.

Residents need not fear major disruptions to their daily routines, but there will be "some inconveniences". "We are not going to close the entire lake to people but will do it in stages," said Mr Mah.

They can also look forward, in the next few years, to the redevelopment of the Jurong East Entertainment Centre, which will house Singapore's first Olympic-sized ice-skating rink.

Already, Propnex chief executive Mohd Ismail expects prices for both public and private housing in Jurong East to go up by five to 10 per cent in the next two years.

Traditionally, the area's flats command prices similar to those in suburban Hougang and Choa Chu Kang, but pale in comparison to mature estates -- a 5-room flat there costs $90,000 and $135,000 less than a similar flat in Bishan and Toa Payoh respectively.

Resident Liang Guet Keow, 49, said she looked forward to a more vibrant Jurong East offering the same facilities as estates such as Bedok and Ang Mo Kio. "It's about time," said the accounts executive.

Member of Parliament (MP) Halimah Yacob told TODAY that she and her fellow Jurong GRC MPs have been pushing for Jurong to be redeveloped.

She said: "It would greatly enhance the living environment. Jurong is in need of rejuvenation -- that part is clear."

And while some residents continue to worry about air quality down the road, Mdm Halimah reiterated that the air in Jurong is not hazardous to health. "It's just that because Jurong has a lot of industries, people may have the sense that the air quality is poorer compared to other estates. But if you look at it from the safety point of view, it is not worse than other parts of Singapore."

The West also rises with Jurong East makeover
360-hectare Jurong Lake District will marry offices and retail outlets with waterfront playground
Kalpana Rashiwala, Business Times 5 Apr 08;

(SINGAPORE) With malls, hotels, offices and entertainment outlets, the sleepy charms of the area around Jurong East MRT Station are poised for a stunning makeover. The place - called Jurong Gateway - will be turned into the biggest regional centre on the island.

Add to this the land and water development around the nearby Jurong Lake - with kayaking, dragon boating and a lakeside village - and the transformation that melds business opportunities with leisure pursuits will be complete.

Jurong Gateway will provide 5.4 million sq ft gross floor area of new office space and 2.7 million sq ft of retail, F&B and entertainment area - more than 2.5 times the current size of Tampines Regional Centre, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan announced yesterday.

The time frame for development will be about 10-15 years and sites in the location are likely to be tendered out for private sector development based on market demand and pace of take-up.

The 70-hectare Gateway will also have at least 1,000 new private homes as well as 2,800 hotel rooms - roughly the same quantum as the Singapore River hotel belt.

Meanwhile, the Lakeside precinct around the Jurong Lake has been earmarked as a new waterfront playground spread over 220ha of land and 70ha of water. It is envisaged as a major leisure destination for Singaporeans and tourists, with about four or five proposed new attractions.

Jurong Gateway and Lakeside together make up Jurong Lake District, the blueprints for which were revealed by Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday.

The 360ha total potential area for development is close to the size of Marina Bay.

In his speech at URA's corporate plan seminar, Mr Mah stressed the importance of decentralisation as a key planning strategy to maintain balance between supporting economic growth and a high-quality living environment.

While Marina Bay and the city remain Singapore's main commercial centre, new commercial hubs like Jurong Gateway will be developed outside the city centre to provide more choices of attractive business locations and bring jobs closer to homes. URA has also earmarked the area around Paya Lebar MRT Station for development into an alternative business hub.

URA said Jurong Gateway will be ideal for company headquarters, business services as well as companies in the science and the research and development (R&D) fields. Such companies will be able to tap a large labour pool from a one million-population catchment in Jurong East and West, Clementi and Bukit Batok, enjoy proximity to a cluster of over 3,000 companies in the International Business Park and Jurong and Tuas industrial estates. Jurong Gateway is also a major transport hub, with Jurong East MRT Station and a bus interchange. The area around the MRT station is designated for development into an integrated commercial and transport hub with white use - allowing office, retail, residential and hotel use. A short distance away, at Jurong Town Hall Road, sites have been designated for high-rise office use.

The tallest buildings in Jurong Gateway will be 35 storeys high but building heights will step down towards Jurong Lake, allowing most developments to have panoramic views of the lake.

A new big-box retail format incorporating consumer electronics, furniture and hypermarket being developed by TT International will add about 34,000 sq m of retail space when completed by end-2009.

Mr Mah also stressed that Singapore's long-term approach to planning - encompassing the Concept Plan and Master Plan process - is a fundamental part of the republic's sustainable development effort. He noted that Singapore's physical resources, especially land, are able to support a long-term population planning parameter of 6.5 million.

The minister also touched on how the influx of foreigners is making some Singaporeans uneasy. 'They find the competition for jobs and school places tough. They see themselves priced out of the housing of their choice.'

Highlighting the contribution of foreigners to various tiers of the Singapore economy and society, Mr Mah said: 'We must . . . convince our people that at the end of the day, if we want to have a good life, we must learn to accept the foreigners in our midst.'

Jurong Lake will be transformed into waterfront playground
Business Times 5 Apr 08;

4-5 new attractions planned; Science Centre site to be developed

THE area around Jurong Lake has been earmarked as a waterfront playground lined with four or five new attractions.

As part of the revamp, the Singapore Science Centre will also be relocated next to Chinese Garden MRT Station and its present site carved into a third island within Jurong Lake and developed into Lakeside Village.

The village, surrounded by a new waterway, will offer alternative shopping and dining, with food & beverage, retail and entertainment outlets and boutique hotels on the lakeside. It will be connected to the new commercial hub at Jurong Gateway through a network of walkways.

The existing Chinese and Japanese gardens - which occupy the two existing islands in the lake - will have added new facilities and activities to boost their attraction.

The plans were revealed in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) draft Master Plan for the area, released yesterday. The plan will guide development over the next 10-15 years.

The four or five new attractions will cater to families with young children. They could include edutainment that rides on proximity to the new Science Centre, nature-based activities that leverage on the lake, as well as attractions with hotels, F&B and shopping.

URA said the new attractions will complement those Jurong already has, such as Jurong Bird Park, the Science Centre and Singapore Discovery Centre.

'The attractions at Jurong Lake will be differentiated from others at Marina Bay, Southern Waterfront and Mandai,' URA said.

URA will work with the Singapore Tourism Board to encourage investors to develop the attractions, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said yesterday.

A new public park will be developed on the western edge of Jurong Lake next to Lakeside MRT Station. Water activities like kayaking and dragon-boating will be introduced on the lake by end-2008. And boardwalks, fishing points and wetlands will be introduced along selected stretches by end-2009.

URA chief executive Cheong Koon Hean said URA may include its plans for Jurong Lake District in its overseas marketing efforts.

The authority's draft Master Plan for the district - comprising the Lakeside precinct as well as the area around Jurong East MRT Station, dubbed Jurong Gateway - has drawn kudos from industry players.

Park Hotel Group director Allen Law said a business hotel could work in the Jurong Lake District. 'A tourist hotel will depend on the phasing of the new attractions,' he added.

Nature Society president Geh Min said: 'I am happy to hear the mention of wetlands. I don't think there will be an issue with the loss of natural environment.'

UOL Group chief operating officer Liam Wee Sin said of URA's plans for the district: 'I'm quite impressed. There's a big opportunity to do an eco-city, not just sky gardens and terraces - but with conscious planning, policy, design and usage.'

DP Architects' Tai Lee Siang reckons the Jurong Lake District will have an edge over Tampines Regional Centre because it has the lake as a natural asset.

Colliers International said URA's blueprint for the district will boost the popularity and value of property there in the mid to long term.

'It's exciting because it will inject a new lease of life to an area that has struggled for many years to shrug off its image as an industrial location,' said Colliers' director Tay Huey Ying.

- With additional reporting by Arthur Sim

URA's Jurong Gateway plan draws mixed response
Consultants and developers hail alternative hub, but fear over-supply in medium term
Kalpana Rashiwala, Business Times 5 Apr 08;

PROPERTY consultants and developers have given a mixed reception to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) plan for Jurong Gateway, which will have about 5.4 million sq ft of gross office area over 10-15 years.

While they welcome an alternative commercial hub that will provide lower-cost office space, some are worried about the timing that yesterday's announcement - made at a point when there is sufficient confirmed mid-term supply - will have on sentiment.

Others are worried the announcement may scare foreign investors from the local office market because of potential over-supply in the not-too-distant future.

First, the positive views.

Jones Lang LaSalle's Singapore country head Chris Fossick welcomed URA's plans for the new commercial hub around Jurong East MRT Station, comparing it to Changi Business Park in the east, which has attracted backroom offices of financial institutions.

Both locations are similar - close to transport hubs and a substantial labour pool, Mr Fossick noted. 'Singapore is in need of such facilities to provide an alternative to more highly-priced real estate in the CBD (central business district) for companies that don't need to be in the CBD.

'From a macro perspective, we can be more competitive as a country when it comes to office space. We can go to banks, IT firms or any MNC and say: 'You have two choices in Singapore: CBD office space or good-quality office space in Jurong or Changi.' We can say Singapore has office space that is expensive as well as space that's inexpensive.'

Another advantage of decentralisation is preventing congestion in the CBD from getting worse, Mr Fossick said.

Giving a more cautious view, CB Richard Ellis executive director Moray Armstrong said: 'The launch of the vision for the area comes at a time when there seems to be ample supply of office space catered for.

'I wonder how strong interest will be in developing the new office space in Jurong because there is already quite a healthy level of confirmed office supply on the island, the bulk of which is a product of the government's policy reaction in the past two years of releasing greater volume of land.

'Office space in the Jurong Gateway location is untested, but if the government is taking a long-term view, it's not unreasonable to envisage this location emerging as a Tampines equivalent.

'Nonetheless, the target they have set looks pretty ambitious in terms of the overall quantum of space, even for a 10-15 year time-frame. After all, Tampines has existing and new office developments in the pipeline with a total net lettable area of about two million sq ft, and that would be over a span of 12-13 years.'

City Developments group general manager Chia Ngiang Hong also voiced concern about the timing of the release of office sites at Jurong Gateway.

'Hopefully, the government will study the market situation carefully before it starts tendering out new office sites,' he said. 'Otherwise, it won't be healthy to cause a massive over-supply in the market again.'

Jurong's massive makeover
Area the size of Marina Bay will be transformed with homes, hotels, shops, eateries and offices linked to MRT via walkways and waterways
Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 5 Apr 08;

EXTREME makeovers do not come more dramatic than this.

In an ambitious plan unveiled yesterday, a large swathe of Jurong will be redeveloped and rebranded the Jurong Lake District.

The 350ha area affected is similar in size to Marina Bay, and will boast all the elements of a vibrant mini-metropolis.

That means new high-rises, hotels, apartments, shops, food places and offices as well as no end of water-related recreational pursuits, with everything linked to MRT stations via walkways and waterways.

Unveiling the plans yesterday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan described Jurong as somewhat under-recognised, 'a gem yet to be uncovered and refined'.

Among Singapore's public housing estates, Jurong has been something of an ugly duckling, its factories giving the place a decidedly industrial-town feel. This is an image it will shed in the next 10 to 15 years as the new plans come to life.

Reinventing Jurong is a challenge, Mr Mah acknowledged. 'But we want to show that this is not pie in the sky, it's something real,' he said.

Singapore's very own Lake District
Jurong is set to shed its industrial image with a stunning makeover
Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 5 Apr 08;

JURONG tends to conjure up unflattering images of factories and sleepy suburbia, but the area is slated for a stunning makeover that will transform it into Singapore's only lakeside destination.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday unveiled a vision for a revamped Jurong, starting with a new name: the Jurong Lake District.

The ambitious plan, to be implemented over the next 10 to 15 years, involves building new waterways, 1,000 private homes, 2,800 hotel rooms and adding 750,000 sq m of office and retail space.

The Jurong Lake District, which at 360ha is the size of Marina Bay, will consist of two precincts.

One is the 70ha Jurong Gateway, which will boast swanky new offices, condos and entertainment features, including an Olympic-size ice-skating rink, all set around Jurong East MRT station.

The other is Lakeside, which is being targeted as a hang-out for young families.

It will feature a bold new science centre, tourist attractions and parks complemented by water activities, all set around the Chinese Garden and Lakeside MRT stations.

Mr Mah told a 500-strong audience at an Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) seminar yesterday that many Singaporeans saw Jurong as a suburban residential and industrial area 'located far away from the city centre'.

But he described it as a 'gem', with compelling reasons singling it out for redevelopment. It is near established towns, with a large labour force and a population catchment of more than one million residents.

It is also a thriving business hub, with more than 3,000 companies - from multinationals to tiny operations - two universities and research centres such as one-north in the vicinity. That made it an ideal business location for cutting-edge technology, said Mr Mah.

Existing transport links - the PanIsland and Ayer Rajah expressways and two MRT lines - also connect Jurong East to the city quickly.

Mr Mah pointed to another benefit of the plan: the proximity of jobs to homes in the area, which reduced the need to commute and eased pressure on transport services.

Jurong's rejuvenation is part of a broader URA decentralisation strategy to balance economic growth, reduce commuting and provide a high quality of life with many leisure options.

It will announce its plans next month to redevelop Paya Lebar. Both initiatives are part of its 2008 Draft Masterplan Review.

URA chairman Alan Chan said the ideas for Jurong were the result of consultation with a wide spectrum of public and private industry players.

Market watchers welcomed the news, saying it would inject new life into Jurong, which has struggled for years to shed its industrial image.

Colliers International's director of research and consultancy Tay Huey Ying said the plan 'would lift the popularity and value of property in the mid- to long-term'.

PropNex chief executive Mohamed Ismail predicted that home prices could increase by five to 10 per cent in the next two years.

Madam Halimah Yacob, an MP for Jurong GRC, said the rejuvenation was a welcome move.

The Chinese and Japanese gardens, for example, were under-utilised and could do with a makeover, she said.

Residents are also excited.

Manager David Lim, 49, who owns a four-room HDB flat at Lakeside, said he hardly stays in Jurong for his weekend recreational activities.

'But to have all these amenities so close to home will really be a bonus,' he said.

FUN: New waterfront playground
Straits Times 5 Apr 08;

THE Lakeside area will be transformed into a major leisure destination in the next 10 to 15 years, with existing attractions enhanced and new ones added.

First up is the new 'world-class' Singapore Science Centre, which will involve expanding the existing attraction and relocating it next to Chinese Garden MRT station. This will allow it to make use of the nearby Jurong Lake and surrounding green spaces to extend the learning environment, said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday.

New facilities will also be added to key attractions in the area, like the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.

Jurong Lake itself will be spruced up, turning the area into Singapore's new 'waterfront playground' and bringing it closer to the new Jurong Gateway office hub.

The Government is also exploring ways to make the lake more accessible, such as by building new waterways or a landscaped walkway.

By the end of the year, the lake will host new water activities such kayaking and dragon-boating, thanks to the PUB. By the end of next year, the agency will also set up more public amenities around the lake, such as boardwalks, fishing points, wetlands and water features. To cap it all, a public park and a lakeside village will be built along with four or five other attractions near the water targeted at families with young children.

These may have 'edutainment' or nature themes, and could even include hotels, restaurants, or shops.

The lakeside village will offer more shopping and dining options. It will be linked to Jurong Gateway by a network of walkways, making the two precincts just a 10-minute walk apart.

BUSINESS: Largest commercial area outside town
Straits Times 5 Apr 08;

MOVE over, Tampines. Jurong is set to be the next big suburban commercial hub.

About 70ha around the Jurong East MRT station have been set aside for the new Jurong Gateway, which will be the largest business district outside of town.

Offices, shops, homes, hotels, restaurants and entertainment centres are just some of the facilities earmarked for the site, said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday.

Jurong Gateway will provide about 8.1 million sq ft of office and retail space - more than double Tampines' and more than three times Novena's, Mr Mah said.

About two-thirds of the space will be set aside for offices, while a third will be for retail, restaurant and entertainment outlets. There will be a mix of large, modern malls and low-rise shops in a 'village setting'.

Jurong Entertainment Centre, part of CapitaLand's CapitaMall Trust, is also being revamped and will house an Olympic-size ice-skating rink next year.

Mr Mah also said more than 1,000 new private homes will be added around the MRT station, and up to 2,800 hotel rooms in the area.

The spate of development will make Jurong Gateway 'an attractive location for company headquarters, especially those from the business services and science and technology sectors', he said, adding that Jurong East is 'already a thriving business hub today', with more than 3,000 companies in Jurong and Tuas.

Property consultants welcomed the plans. 'Making plans now would prevent a possible repeat of the supply crunch we are experiencing,' said Ms Tay Huey Ying of Colliers International.

HOUSING: Over 1,000 private homes to be built
Straits Times 5 Apr 08;

PROPERTY hunters looking to buy a stake in the newly revamped Jurong Lake District will be happy that more than 1,000 private homes will be built there.

But no more new Housing Board flats are planned for Jurong, said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday.

This is also partly because the focus is on building up Sengkang and Punggol towns, said Mr Mah.

'There is sufficient public housing in Jurong so the next phase will be... on private housing,' he added.

However, if demand is strong for the private homes, more land can be re-allocated for condominiums.

That is why the sites around the MRT stations are mostly white sites, said Mr Mah.

'But all this ultimately has got to depend on the market and how it responds, whether the emphasis is more on office or housing.'

The Urban Redevelopment Authority said yesterday that the residential buildings at Jurong Gateway are likely to be 35 storeys at most, and building heights will gradually step down towards the lake to enable good views.

Colliers International's director of research and consultancy, Ms Tay Huey Ying, said it was timely for the Government to make early plans to accommodate and tap on any spillover in demand from the Central Business District.

This could occur from the office, hotel and residential sectors when mega projects, such as the two integrated resorts and Marina Bay Financial Centre, are completed and up and running, she said.