Chic hubs of the future

JURONG LAKE DISTRICT It is not only going to become Singapore’s largest commercial hub outside the Central Business District, the 360ha Jurong Lake District is also being fashioned into a chic mini-metropolis of the future, with offices, hotels and housing boasting lake-views, retail, leisure and other amenities. Comprising Jurong Gateway and Lakeside, the vast area, when developed over the coming decade or so, will feature several new malls — including Jem, Westgate and JCube — two hospitals and a hotel. The hotel site was recently awarded to Genting unit Tamerton. When substantially developed in the next 10 to 15 years, at least 1,000 new homes will also sprout up in Jurong Gateway, making it a prime area in which to work, live and play. New housing is also on the cards in the vicinity of Jurong Lake District. These include 1,200 new flats by 2015, called Bukit Batok Skyline 1 and 2, as well as private developments such as the Caspian and Lakefront Residences. The authorities have worked with IBM, under its Smarter Cities Challenge, to explore possible ideas that could be test-bedded in the district. In all, 500,000 sq m of office space and 250,000 sq m of retail, F&B and entertainment space is expected to be available eventually. KALLANG RIVERSIDE In 10 to 15 years, this once-staid area will be transformed into the next waterfront lifestyle precinct, with an attractive residential enclave set beside a shiny commercial hub that sits on the edge of the city. On the east bank of the river, there will be 400,000 sq m of offices, shops and entertainment venues, as well as 3,000 hotel rooms, set amid lush greenery and a tropical beachfront setting. To the west will be 4,000 new waterfront private homes linked by a long park straddling the waterfront and Lavender MRT station. The river will also offer space for boating or canoeing. PAYA LEBAR CENTRAL Although relatively small at 12ha, Paya Lebar Central holds its own, distinguishing itself with a traditional Malay flavour. The land, around Sims Avenue and Geylang Road, will yield some 0.5 million sq m of commercial space, with more than half earmarked for offices, and the rest going to shops and hotels. While there are no plans to add homes to this area, analysts have said this could be an attractive prospect for small-and-medium enterprises’ backroom operations, given that it is just 10 minutes from the CBD. NORTH COAST INNOVATION CORRIDOR The stretch spanning spanning Woodlands, Sembawang, Seletar and Punggol, will be abuzz with creative design and new technology industries, and other future economic activities. In the middle of it will sit the future Seletar Regional Centre — which could dwarf Tampines Regional Centre — and Seletar Aerospace Park. New business activities will spring up in Sembawang once shipyard activities there are phased out. SOUTHERN WATERFRONT CITY Extending from Marina Bay to Keppel, Telok Blangah and Pasir Panjang Terminal, there will be new commercial and housing developments after the relocating of port terminals to Tuas frees up waterfront land.