Latest news with #masterplan
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
S'pore's new blueprint will give residents more flexibility to choose ideal home: Analysts
SINGAPORE – Singapore's latest draft masterplan will give residents greater flexibility in choosing an ideal living environment across the island, with amenities – as well as workspaces in some cases – located nearer homes, said analysts. The new masterplan – Singapore's land use development blueprint for the next 10 to 15 years – focuses more on creating an environment that fosters a healthier and more active lifestyle, supports the Republic's ageing population and addresses the challenges of climate change, they added. Ms Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at property agency OrangeTee Group, said there is a bigger emphasis on an environment that enhances the quality of life for Singaporeans through the provision of more homes with access to sea, river and park views, as well as more parks and amenities, and the preservation of heritage buildings and cultural sites. Furthermore, there is a dedicated effort to build new sports facilities closer to residential areas to encourage a healthier lifestyle, Ms Sun said. This means that Singaporeans will have a more diverse array of housing options to suit their needs, be they near the city centre, schools, parks or waterways. With each community designed to be better connected with essential amenities, this ensures convenient access to schools, healthcare facilities and recreational areas wherever residents choose to live, added Ms Sun. 'All these initiatives will help to create a more balanced, sustainable living experience for all residents, regardless of age and budget,' she said. At least 80,000 public and private homes will be introduced across more than 10 new housing areas in the next 10 to 15 years, with new neighbourhoods planned in areas such as Dover, Defu, Newton and Paterson. Integrated community hubs with sports facilities, healthcare and community spaces are also in the works for Sengkang, Woodlands North and Yio Chu Kang. Mr Marcus Chu, chief executive of real estate agency ERA Singapore, said that with more housing estates catching up in terms of amenities and accessibility, housing demand may start to be spread more evenly across Singapore. This could, in turn, lead to more even price growth across different regions. More land parcels around MRT stations and more business hubs are also being planned outside the Central Business District to bring work closer to homes, spread the load on the transport network and reduce the need to set aside land for roads, said Mr Mark Yip, CEO of property firm Huttons Asia. One such example is the greater one-north precinct, which has developed into a bustling research-and-development hub with more than 50,000 knowledge workers. Mr Lee Sze Teck, Huttons' senior director of data analytics, said there is therefore a need to provide more homes so that the workers can live near their workplaces. 'This will reduce travelling time and stress on the transport network,' he added. The Dover-Medway neighbourhood in the precinct could see 6,000 new public and private homes built in the first phase, while some 5,000 new private homes could be introduced in Mediapolis, which is also in the area. Ms Sun said building more homes in Dover-Medway and Mediapolis will in turn attract more workers, researchers, students and expats to live there, and support business growth in the area. Mr Ismail Gafoor, CEO of property firm PropNex, said land use for three plots in Ayer Rajah Crescent, near Media Circle in one-north, has been changed from business park to residential, with commercial use on the first storey. That should bring more amenities to Media Circle, which is set to see more high-density housing. In addition, two sites in the nearby Singapore Science Park II have been updated from business park use to residential. This ties in with the ongoing rejuvenation of the Science Park, he added. In the heart of town, Paterson – on the doorstep of Orchard Road – could get 1,000 new private homes as part of an integrated development with retail, food and beverage and office spaces above Orchard MRT station. Ms Sun said expanding the residential landscape in the Orchard Road precinct is a good move due to the scarcity of available land in prime areas. New government land sites in prime areas – especially near Orchard Road – are quite rare, and it has been many years since The Orchard Residences, an integrated development near the heart of Orchard, was launched, Ms Sun noted. But given the luxury property market's slower growth, some of these new sites may be placed on the reserve list of the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme, she added. Such sites are launched for sale when a developer offers a minimum price that the Government accepts, or when there is enough market interest. Mr Lee pointed out that the land parcel above Orchard MRT station has been rezoned to a white site, and the plot ratios have been bumped up. White sites refer to land parcels designated for mixed-use development and allow for flexibility in development plans, while plot ratios measure how intensively land can be developed. 'This is a prime opportunity to build an iconic shopping and residential project as the last GLS site above Orchard MRT was Ion Orchard and The Orchard Residences in 2005,' he said. But the 60 per cent additional buyer's stamp duty on foreign buyers may not give developers the confidence to bid for that site if it is launched for sale, Mr Lee added. Meanwhile, Ms Catherine He, head of research at commercial real estate services firm Colliers, said sites including Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB), Sembawang Shipyard and the former Singapore Racecourse in Kranji were chosen for redevelopment into housing estates to optimise land use for the maximum benefit of residents, and relocate industrial and commercial activities farther out. In particular, the relocation of PLAB in eastern Singapore from 2030 will be a game-changer, said real estate consultancy Knight Frank Singapore's research head Leonard Tay. With about 800ha of land to be freed up for the development of residences, offices, factories and recreational areas, this means that building height restrictions imposed for the safe navigation of aircraft in surrounding towns could be lifted. Although higher plot ratios around PLAB have not been announced in the latest draft masterplan, Mr Tay said it would be reasonable to expect some collective sale opportunities, as older properties that are no longer constrained by low-rise plot ratios could see an increase in land values after 2030. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
CNA
5 days ago
- Business
- CNA
New housing options, parks and improved amenities among plans under URA's draft master plan
Singaporeans now have a glimpse into how the spaces they live, work and play in will look like for the next 10 to 15 years. From new homes in the city to new community and office spaces, a draft master plan by the Urban Redevelopment Authority was unveiled on Jun 25, mapping out the grand plans for the nation's land use. Residents in some areas will get new or refreshed amenities. Some familiar, well-loved sites will be conserved, while others will be made over. Professor Sing Tien Foo, Provost's Chair Professor in the Department of Real Estate at NUS Business School, discusses the draft master plan. He talks about the strategies laid out in this master plan and how conserving heritage plays a role in Singapore's urban planning.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lack of quorum delays vote on Frederick Health master plan
A lack of a quorum on Monday kept the city of Frederick Planning Commission from voting to approve plans for Frederick Health to develop 750 dwelling units and 1.3 million square feet of non-residential uses on its campus in northern Frederick. Scott Waxter, assistant city attorney for the city of Frederick, said at Monday's meeting that the master plan now will appear before the commissioners during their meeting in July. Three commissioners — Joan Strawson, Dorothy Menelas and April Lee — attended Monday's meeting, the minimum number for a quorum. There are currently five planning commissioners. Planning Commissioners Elaine Llewellyn and Natasha Valencia were not present on Monday, and neither was City Council Liaison Ben MacShane. Waxter said Lee had recused herself from hearing the item during earlier meetings, due to professional ties. 'While its not a financial conflict, it is sort of an appearance conflict,' he said. 'Because she has recused herself in the past, there is no reason to take that back.' During a recess from Monday's meeting, Waxter said he recommended that Lee recuse herself again, which led to the lack of quorum to hear the item. Monday was supposed to be when the master plan was voted on. It was the second time it came before planners. 'I apologize to the group that I didn't notice this earlier,' Waxter said. Frederick Health Village — a subsidiary of Frederick Health, which operates a hospital on West 7th Street — presented the master plan for the first of two public hearings before the Planning Commission in May. The plan is to redevelop a 93.2-acre site, which is zoned Mixed Use, between Monocacy Boulevard and U.S. 15, according to city records. The plan included senior living, retirement facilities, a nursing home, a medical laboratory and a helistop.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Sandpoint Beach master plan lauded but swim area still unmarked
Candace Phillips lives across from Sandpoint Beach and likes the city's master plan to redevelop Sandpoint Beach. 'The flip is beautiful and amazing,' Phillips said of the plan to move the beach to the east side of the park. 'I think the city has an opportunity to we can close this side and open over there, and so keep the people happy, still keep the sand available, still keep the beach available but there's options. It doesn't have to close.' City Councillor Angelo Marignani put forward a notice of motion earlier this week to have the city accelerate the master plan in order to avoid another tragedy on the west side of the beach. 'What I am requesting in my motion is for it to be prioritized for the 2026 capital budget,' Marignani said. In the master plan, there is a breakwall that stretches across the current beach area into the fenced off part of the property. The breakwall falls short of the property line, where some of the tragedies have occurred. According to Marignani, the city leases the property from the Port Authority. 'That public partnership, part of that motion is to look and work with the Port Authority of Windsor just to see how we can improve this area.' The estimated cost of moving the beach area and creating a park is $15 million. Phillips knows the project won't happen overnight, but the beach is open this weekend and there still aren't markers in the water. 'When that snow fence comes down we could easily have the rope-to-swim area marked out because it's just one more visual saying, 'this is where it could be safe if you're choosing to go in,'' Phillips said. City Councillor Fred Francis feels there are two choices facing council: eliminate swimming in an area where the Peche Island channel is close to shore, or make the structural changes to move the beach east where the channel is much further away. 'Having three people drowned at Sandpoint over the course of the last year is unacceptable to everyone, and if we could do something to prevent that to happen to the next person, we should,' Francis said. The acceleration of the Sandpoint Beach safety plan will be discussed in early June. Administration will then report back to council within 60 days and a directive will be given. 'Write to your city council. Write to your mayor and say, this is how I feel. If you feel very strongly, on June 9th, be a delegate and speak to it directly to council,' said Francis.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘This is the answer': Marignani advocating for Sandpoint Beach masterplan
Ward 7 City Coun. Angelo Marignani wants Sandpoint Beach to continue being a seasonal staple in the city. Following a recent horrific drowning death, Marignani wants to get the wheels in motion to implement the 2024 master plan for Sandpoint Beach. In a Facebook post, he said the plan is vital for the future of the beloved beach. 'I'm going to be putting forward a motion that will prioritize the 2026 budget and this master plan,' Marignani said. 'We're here to help that Canadian dream and not make it into a Canadian nightmare.' By bringing the master plan up Monday, Marignani is giving council notice that it will be discussed at the next council meeting. SANDPOINT MASTER PLAN (Source: Submitted) 'That's where I would bring up the financing options. The safety options or the sentiment or prioritization of the community,' Marignani told CTV News. 'We have a strong, extremely strong community support on the Sandpoint Beach master plan. People are unanimously saying, 'Yeah, the Sandpoint beach part has to be closed.'' The master plan shows the west side of the property turned into a park area with the beach moving to the east side. The Wednesday before the next council meeting, Marignani said he would submit a request for details of the motion, which would include funding for the plan, funding for the capital budget, development process for the plan, and that the plan be deemed a priority in the 2026 capital budget process. Discussion will ensue before a vote takes place at the meeting after that. 'I feel that if council does do its due diligence, the priority is our safety and this is the answer to our safety,' Marignani said. 'It needs to happen because we have an obligation to make our public places clean, safe, and beautiful, and we're kind of missing out on the safe part.'
