consumption and dependence on private
cars. To further encourage carbon emission-
free travel, cycling will made more convenient
with the provision of a network of dedicated
cycling paths.
All new developments at Marina Bay are
required to achieve higher BCA Green Mark
standards that are equivalent to the Gold
Plus
or Platinum ratings. This will help to reduce
energy usage of the new developments by 25
to 30 per cent. A Landscape Replacement
policy has also been introduced to ensure that
greenery lost from the development site area
will be replaced.
The Bay is served by a District Cooling
System, a centralised cooling plant serving
the area and a Common Services Tunnel,
a purpose-built underground tunnel that
houses and distributes various utility services
to developments in the Marina Bay area.
This makes the maintenance and upgrading
of services more convenient.
Several major projects have been completed
in the area, such as the Marina Bay
Sands, Fullerton Heritage, the first phase
of the Marina Bay Financial Centre and
Asia Square Tower 1. The area is now
established as a major business and financial
precinct to complement Raffles Place and is
home to major local and overseas financial
institutions. This will continue to grow in the
coming years with the completion of the
Marina Bay Financial Centre Office Tower 3,
Marina Bay Suites and Asia Square Tower 2,
as well as the four land parcels to be
developed by M+S Pte Ltd.
The Bay is also fast becoming a popular
community space following the opening of
The Promontory@Marina Bay, The Lawn@
Marina Bay, The Helix Bridge, and the
Marina Bay waterfront promenade.
The 3.5 km waterfront promenade allows
Singaporeans and visitors to enjoy the
entire necklace of attractions and offers an
ideal vantage point for events in and around
Marina Bay.
Enhancing Strategic Areas
Other parts of Singapore are also bubbling with
plans for enhancement and redevelopment.
Singapore’s prime shopping belt Orchard
Road saw the addition of new commercial
developments such as ION Orchard, 313@
Somerset, and Orchard Central. The Bras
Basah Bugis area is on its way to becoming
Singapore’s arts, cultural, learning and
entertainment hub.
The physical environment of places with
distinctive character such as Little India,
Siglap Village, and Upper Serangoon were
also improved. Other recently completed
projects include Woodlands Waterfront,
Punggol Promenade and Labrador Nature
and Coastal Walk, which bring people
closer to nature and the coastal areas in
Singapore. URA was conferred the ULI
Global Awards for Excellence in October
2010
for its transformation and development
of the Southern Ridges, a 9 km-long chain
of green, open spaces spanning the rolling
hills of Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah
Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park, before
ending at West Coast Park.
New areas for development will be opened up
to meet the growing demand for space in the
business services sector. The decentralising
of commercial activities from the city centre
opens up new opportunities for businesses
looking for space to set up or grow in.
The Tampines Regional Centre has been
successfully developed into a vibrant business
and commercial hub. We are also building up
another regional centre in the west at the
Jurong Lake District, which will become a
unique lakeside destination for business and
leisure in the next 10 to 15 years. Plans are
also afoot to develop more commercial and
mixed-use hubs at Kallang Riverside and
Paya Lebar Central.
Planning for the Future
MND faces the constant challenge of
meeting the needs of a growing population.
Our development plans must keep pace with
the fast-changing needs of Singapore-based
businesses, as well as the rising aspirations
of Singaporeans seeking a better quality of
life. The Government is fully committed to
investing in strategic initiatives and partnerships
to create a vibrant and distinctive city.
Together, we will shape the physical
landscape of our future and ensure that
Singapore continues to develop as an
attractive and liveable city – one that provides
not only economic opportunities but also
a healthy and sustainable physical living
environment and social stability for its people.
40
An Endearing Home,
A Distinctive Global City
