SINGAPORE: The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is looking for multidisciplinary teams to develop master plan proposals for Jurong Lake District.
URA announced the Request For Proposal (RFP) in a media release on Monday (Jul 11). It said a key focus of the master planning exercise includes developing proposals for Lakeside Gateway, a new mixed-used precinct and home to the future terminus of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail.
The area aims to become Singapore's district of the future and will have a different identity compared to the current central business district.
"It's green fields, so we can start from scratch," said Ms Yvonne Lim, group director of physical planning at URA. "The community that is going to be working and living there is going to be quite different.
"Looking forward, we know that how people work is changing. It's no longer about maybe sitting in the office from 8am to 5pm. You have people interacting, so we're going to create a lot of public spaces."
Participating teams will be developing proposals for the following components of the Jurong Lake District Master Plan:
Detailed master plan for Lakeside Gateway, including strategies to seamlessly integrate the new precinct with Jurong Gateway, Lakeside, as well as the Teban Gardens and Pandan Gardens area to the south;
Strategies to shape a distinctive identity for Jurong Lake District;
Possible revisions to land uses of surrounding areas that will strengthen the position of Jurong Lake District as Singapore’s second CBD. Examples of these areas are Jurong West to the west, and Teban Gardens and Pandan Gardens to the south;
Car-lite and connectivity plans for Jurong Lake District and its surroundings. Examples include a comprehensive network of infrastructure and facilities catering to active mobility options (e.g. walking, cycling and Personal Mobility Devices) that links up to existing and future developments throughout the District;
Urban design guidelines, landscaping and public space strategies, and plans to create, improve, and integrate green and blue spaces;
Plans for the possible adaptive reuse of the former Jurong Town Hall and current Science Centre buildings, to strengthen the heritage memories of Jurong;
Plans for possible district-level infrastructure, utilities and urban systems. Examples include a district cooling system, common services tunnel, pneumatic refuse conveyance system, and urban logistics;
An underground space plan catering to different uses throughout the District. The objective is to optimise overall land use and improve pedestrian experience in underground spaces; and
Environmental sustainability strategies to mitigate the Urban Heat Island Effect and improve energy efficiency, resource usage, and overall thermal comfort throughout the District, HDB said.
The RFP will comprise two stages. Interested teams will first need to submit their interest to participate in the RFP by Sep 5, 2016. Up to five shortlisted teams will develop their Concept Master Plans for Jurong Lake District, which must be submitted by Dec 7, 2016, URA said. The appointed team will be notified in January 2017, and appointed in February of the same year, according to URA. It will then work with URA and partner agencies to draw up the Draft Master Plan for the area.
"There will be a public exhibition of the Jurong Lake District Draft Master Plan around the third quarter of 2017. Thereafter, the appointed team will work with URA to refine the plans," URA said.
PUBLIC TO BE INVITED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK
URA added that the public will be invited to give their feedback on the district's Draft Master Plan during the exhibition period, which is likely to be held in the third quarter of next year.
"At the same time, URA will engage the relevant stakeholders, partner agencies, and the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee to gather their input on the plans," URA said.
The Draft Master Plan will then be revised based on feedback received, according to the Authority.
First announced in 2008, Jurong Lake District is Singapore's regional centre in the west, planned as part of efforts to create new commercial activities, more quality jobs, amenities and recreational activities closer to homes, URA said. The district comprises a commercial hub, Jurong Gateway, as well as Lakeside, a leisure precinct.
According to URA, Jurong Gateway has been shaping up well, and the development of Lakeside is underway with Jurong Lake Gardens.
“We have an exceptional opportunity to transform Jurong Lake District into ‘A District of the Future’ and our second CBD, which will redefine the way we live, work and play. As a CBD in our heartlands, the District will drive Singapore’s growth in the future economy, and cater to the diverse needs of businesses, residents, visitors, and Singaporeans from all walks of life. It will be a distinctive new gateway to Singapore," said National Development Minister and chairman of the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee Lawrence Wong.
- CNA/dl
Jurong Lake District to be second CBD, call for plans issued
KELLY NG AND ALFRED CHUA Today Online 12 Jul 16;
SINGAPORE — The Government is seeking proposals for transforming the Jurong Lake District into the Republic’s second Central Business District, which will be anchored by the upcoming Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) terminus.
Launching a Request for Proposal on Monday (July 11), the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the district’s steering committee — led by National Development Minister Lawrence Wong — have spelt out six goals that teams should be guided by in the masterplanning exercise.
First, the core area around the HSR terminus should offer “flexible and adaptable work spaces” to facilitate a mix of businesses and services, such as research and development, education, training and business incubators.
The district is also envisioned as a “24/7 hub” that offers retail, entertainment and leisure options outside working hours, as well as residences and common recreational facilities.
It will be a car-lite district, with a public transport mode share projected to be higher than the national target of 75 per cent by 2030. The district’s natural and heritage assets — such as the Jurong Lake and Jurong River, the former Jurong Town Hall building — should also shape a “distinctive identity”.
Highlights like the upcoming Jurong Lake Gardens, future recreational facilities, and the current and new Science Centres, will also anchor the district as a leisure destination for locals and foreign visitors.
Finally, innovative urban infrastructure — such as underground solutions — will be used to cater to the needs of different developments in the district in a productive and efficient manner, and sustainable strategies to mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve energy efficiency should be used.
Located between the district’s Jurong Gateway and Lakeside precincts, the 112-ha Lakeside Gateway is currently home to extensive greenery, water bodies, and the Jurong Country Club — which was acquired last year to make way for developments.
The upcoming Jurong Region Line and Cross-Island Line, together with the current North-South and East-West MRT lines, is also expected to improve traffic in the region.
Interested teams are to submit information on their team composition, track record, and a statement detailing their planning and design approach, and strategies to overcome anticipated challenges, by Sept 5.
Up to five teams will be shortlisted to develop their concept master plans for the district over ten weeks. The best team will be appointed in February next year, and thereafter work with URA and its partner agencies to draw up a Draft Master Plan for the district.
Members of the public will be able to give feedback on the plan around the third quarter of next year.
Implementation of the plan will be “studied carefully”, said the URA in a media release on Monday.
“(It will take) into consideration various factors including the broader plans of surrounding areas, development of other projects in the district, and the needs of the community,” it said.
Property analysts whom TODAY spoke to were generally positive about the potential impact of the development plans.
But Century 21 chief executive Ku Swee Yong noted there are competing developments in other parts of the island, such as plans to develop a Northern Gateway in the Woodlands area.
The success of Jurong Lake District would depend on whether it is “the precinct of top priority for developing Singapore to face challenges of the future economy”, he added.
The HSR would also be pivotal to bringing in significant economic benefits to the Jurong Lake District. “There needs to be demand first in the area, before new developments can come up,” he said.
Mr Colin Tan, director of research and consultancy at Suntec Real Estate Consultants, said the HSR, along with the push to make the Jurong Lake District a “24/7 hub” would increase movement to the area “throughout all hours of the day, even late at night”.
This could help the area stand out, he said, cautioning against “just replicating another Raffles Place”.
He also felt the Jurong area now stood a better chance of successfully become a second business centre. Compared to Tampines — another regional centre that was earmarked for development as a business hub — Jurong has critical mass with a mixture of residential, retail and hotel developments.
Suggesting ways in which the developments could shape up, Ms Christine Li, director of research at Cushman & Wakefield, said: “Office buildings could also go towards more campus-like environment with the aid of smart mobility devices.”
There could also be another business hotel with a convention centre, targeting transit travelers using the HSR. “Jurong Lake District could try to incorporate a range of landed and low rise condominiums with smart elements and waterfront views as their selling points, giving rise to perhaps a more affordable “Sentosa Cove in the suburbs”,” added Ms Li.