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Plan giving developers freer rein to pilot in Punggol

SINGAPORE – The authorities are rolling out a master developer concept, whereby private developers will be given the freedom to create a masterplan and urban design plan for a district, subject to broad planning parameters set by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). This will be piloted in the upcoming Punggol Enterprise district, with JTC appointed master developer for the project, while a tender for a developer will be called for the Kampong Bugis area.

SINGAPORE – The authorities are rolling out a master developer concept, whereby private developers will be given the freedom to create a masterplan and urban design plan for a district, subject to broad planning parameters set by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). This will be piloted in the upcoming Punggol Enterprise district, with JTC appointed master developer for the project, while a tender for a developer will be called for the Kampong Bugis area.

Typically, the URA carves out individual plots on a site, and put them on sale. A master developer, on the other hand, would have more flexibility in putting forward proposals. “This approach can help achieve better integration between buildings and public spaces, connectivity and amenities … building strong precinct identities and local communities,” said the URA.

The agency is in the midst of industry consultations to draft development parameters and tender requirements for the Kampong Bugis site.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong noted that typically, the Government’s desired network of public spaces and connectivity links takes a long time to create, as land parcels require time to develop.

“With a master developer overseeing the implementation of an enterprise district, the key pedestrian routes and public spaces can be identified, and a more comprehensive network can be implemented upfront,” said Mr Wong during the debate on his ministry’s budget.

The Kampong Bugis area is earmarked for future private residential use. While a private developer will plan at the district level, it will have to be responsible for “certain outcomes”, said Mr Wong.

“We want this to be a people-centric, car-lite precinct, we’ll require the developer to put in place a comprehensive network of pedestrian walkways and cycling paths, as well as community and green spaces. Also, we’ll want the developer to put in place district-level systems to manage waste and storm water,” he said.

Up to 4,000 new homes could be built on the 17.4-ha site between Kallang Road, Kallang River and Crawford Street, amidst commercial and communal amenities.

Punggol New Town will be designated the first Enterprise District with a focus on the cyber security and digital media industries. “In the Punggol cluster, most of the developments are undertaken by government agencies, so we will appoint JTC as the master developer,” said Mr Wong.JTC would be given the freedom to optimise land use across the development, integrate the needs of different users, and curate the tenant mix.

Citing the proximity of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) campus to JTC’s business parks, Mr Wong said that SIT could house industry research and development facilities and start-up spaces on campus.

“SIT’s research labs, incubator spaces and learning facilities could be located inside JTC business park buildings and shared with industry,” he said. These planning liberties are subject to land use and gross plot ratio guidelines at the district level.

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