URA’s urban greening initiative taking root: Khaw

SINGAPORE — The Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High Rises (LUSH) programme by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is helping spread the “green message” in Singapore, said National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan.

In a blog post today (June 12), Mr Khaw said the LUSH initiative has supported the development of 40 hectare of new high-rise and urban greenery, equivalent to the size of 130 primary school fields.

More than one-third of shopping malls, offices and hotels have applied for LUSH incentives in the last two years, while more than half of eligible residential developments have done likewise, the minister revealed.

In fact, in areas such as Marina Bay and Jurong Gateway, the URA mandates developers to replace greenery they have displaced with green communal spaces that are “at least equivalent to the land area of the development” — a 100 per cent replacement, he said.

One example of such a development is the Westgate shopping mall at Jurong Gateway, with its “lush vertical greenery, sky terraces and roof gardens”, he added.

“We are pleased with what LUSH has accomplished and have decided to do more, through additional incentives and regulations. Our aim is to make Singapore a great garden, and a great home,” Mr Khaw said, adding that the URA will announce details of the incentives and regulations shortly. CHANNEL NEWSASIA