URA to survey lifestyle needs and trends

Rekha Manoharan, Channel NewsAsia 11 Aug 09;

SINGAPORE: The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is embarking on a survey to establish lifestyle needs and trends in Singapore.

The findings of the URA Lifestyle Survey will provide inputs to the ongoing Concept Plan 2011 Review, which maps out the long-term directions for land use and transportation plans over the next 40 to 50 years.

Through this survey, URA also hopes to discover the lifestyle needs and aspirations of residents so that it can work with relevant agencies to improve the current provision of amenities and facilities such as those for leisure and recreation.

The survey is conducted once every five years and will gather information from some 4,000 respondents, from all walks of life, on factors that contribute towards creating a sense of belonging to Singapore.

The survey will be conducted between August and November this year, and notification letters will be sent to the selected households.

- CNA/yt/al

URA survey on lifestyle
Straits Times 12 Aug 09;

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is looking into Singaporean lifestyles in a survey that is set to guide land use and transportation policy.

Four thousand people, including singles, families with young children, the elderly and foreigners, will be surveyed between now and November. And focus group discussions will be used to gain deeper insight into key issues.

Those taking part in the survey will be asked for their views on a range of lifestyle issues, including living and working environments, recreational activities and factors that create a sense of belonging to Singapore.

The URA hopes the survey will highlight any gaps that need filling in the provision of facilities.

Also, the findings of the Lifestyle Survey will go towards the 2011 review of the Concept Plan, which maps out Singapore's land use and transportation over the next 40 to 50 years.

Letters will be sent to notify households that have been selected for the survey.

CHARISSA YONG

URA survey seeks to find out lifestyle needs in S'pore

4,000 people, including PRs and employment pass holders, to be polled
Kalpana Rashiwala, Business Times 12 Aug 09;

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority has commissioned a survey of 4,000 people, including some permanent residents (PRs) and employment pass holders, to establish lifestyle needs and trends in Singapore.

The findings will provide input to the ongoing Concept Plan 2011 Review.

'The Lifestyle Survey will sample a representative profile of the Singapore population which includes both locals and foreigners,' a URA spokesman told BT.

'We want to ascertain the lifestyle needs and aspirations of locals and foreigners so we can work with the relevant agencies to improve any gaps identified in the current provision of amenities and facilities.'

This is URA's second lifestyle survey. The first, conducted in 2002-2004, covered Singapore citizens and PRs. This latest survey will also include employment pass holders.

URA said the findings of the survey will facilitate the planning of residential and work locations, among other things.

Key areas in which URA will gather public responses include preferences for residential areas and housing types; leisure and recreational activities; mode of travel and travel times; and attributes that contribute to quality of life.

Respondents will also be polled on their satisfaction with amenities and facilities near work, home and for leisure, as well as factors that help create a sense of belonging.

The Concept Plan maps out the long-term directions for Singapore's land use and transport plans over the next 40 to 50 years.

URA has commissioned ML Research Consultants to conduct the survey between August and November this year.

Besides foreigners, other survey respondents who will be selected to participate from a 'broad spectrum of our population, including singles, families with young children and the elderly', URA said.

In addition, focus groups will be conducted to gain deeper insight into lifestyle needs and aspirations, it said.