URA's latest master plan formalised after review of proposals

Bukit Timah Fire Station and the Railway Station Staff Quarters gazetted for conservation

Thu, Nov 28, 2019


AN URBAN masterplan that will guide Singapore's development in the next 10 to 15 years was formalised on Wednesday.

Under the gazetted Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Master Plan 2019, the former Bukit Timah Railway Station Staff Quarters and Bukit Timah Fire Station have also been gazetted for conservation, the authority said in a statement on the same day.

Other initiatives in the plan include revitalising Orchard Road and the central area such as planning for new hotels and homes in the Central Business District; district-level underground plans; and a new 50km Greater Rustic Coast running along the northern coast.

The gazette concludes the review of the Draft Master Plan 2019, which was exhibited at URA's premises from March to June this year.

Highlights in the showcase included a 24km "green vein" called the Rail Corridor running through Singapore that will be connected by 2021, as well as an additional 1,000ha of parks and park connectors.

The corridor will run through the country, connecting Woodlands Regional Centre, which will feature a new agri-food and innovation park, to future housing in Choa Chu Kang, before running through Queenstown down to the Greater Southern Waterfront, a future mixed-use district of over 2,000ha that will extend from Pasir Panjang to Marina East.

Meanwhile, the former Bukit Timah Fire Station will feature a visitor centre for the nature and heritage attractions in the area.

It will also be a central point for the network of attractions with connections to the Bukit Batok Nature Park and the Rail Corridor. The building's heritage will also be showcased.

The Railway Station Staff Quarters in Bukit Timah will also be conserved to retain its heritage.

The quarters, as well as the Bukit Timah Railway Station opposite it, will be refurbished and repurposed with amenities to complement the station's use as a base for community activities.

Over 25,000 stakeholders and members of the public visited the exhibition during this time to find out more about the proposals, with some 6,000 visitors also signing up for guided tours by URA volunteers and staff.

To reach out to more residents, regional plans were also exhibited at Waterway Point, Westgate, Junction 8, Our Tampines Hub and Causeway Point from July to August.

"Over the past few years, URA has engaged stakeholders, including residents, interest groups, professional institutes, grassroots leaders and advisers, on our plans," URA said.

It added that the feedback gathered from these stakeholders through focus groups, dialogue, workshops, briefings and exhibitions have helped to shape URA's draft plans.

"In particular, stakeholder feedback from these sessions helped to refine the original plans for Kallang River, Jurong Lake District, Farrer Park, Holland Plain and Lorong Chuan, and shape our plans to support the rejuvenation of Orchard Road and the Central Business District," the authority said.

"The refined plans were subsequently exhibited as part of Draft Master Plan 2019. The early engagement had also allowed planners to update stakeholders on the actions taken prior to the Draft Master Plan 2019 exhibition."

URA said that suggestions and feedback for the draft plan's proposals were incorporated where appropriate and will be considered as the authority develops detailed plans for future areas.

The Master Plan 2019 and the Master Plan Written Statement 2019 are available in hard copy at the URA Centre Atrium for public viewing. They are also available online at www.ura.gov.sg