North-east region to get its Orchard Road
Area to get new commercial centre near where North East and Circle MRT lines meet; 123,000 more homes to be built

By Wendy Tan

THE sleepy north-east region is to be given an injection of the kind of commercial development that now exists in places like Bishan.

A major boost will be provided by a commercial area the size of Ngee Ann City.

Another is the addition of 123,000 homes to what used to be mostly poultry and pig farms, and which over the last 25 years have been replaced by 195,000 dwellings, most of which are Housing Board flats.

Unveiling its plans yesterday, an Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) spokesman said that when fully developed, the region's heart at Serangoon Central will have as much shop and office space as Orchard Road's Ngee Ann City.

A new commercial centre will be built at Serangoon Town Centre, and a 2.5 ha site nearby will be developed to include a new bus interchange as well as two MRT stations. This area sits at the intersection of the existing North East line and the future Circle line.

An underground pedestrian link is also being planned, to connect residents to the surrounding housing areas.

The north-east will become the second largest region after the central region - covering Bishan, Toa Payoh, Bukit Merah, Kallang, Geylang and Novena - in terms of the number of housing units.

This vision for the north-east is part of a draft Master Plan to guide land use here over the next 10 to 15 years.

The plans revealed yesterday cover 10,500 ha of land spanning Ang Mo Kio, Hougang, Serangoon, Punggol, Sengkang, Seletar, Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong. Last month, plans were unveiled for the north and west regions, which include adding 43,000 homes in the north and 68,000 in the west.

There will be about 150 ha more park land in the north-east, up from the current 460 ha, and a 20-ha riverine park will be built in Sengkang..

The 'rustic charm' of the area will be preserved, with Pulau Ubin being recognised as a nature area, said the URA. An English cottage built in the 1930s on the island will be restored and turned into a visitors' centre with organised nature tours.

The entire region will be joined by a 52-km green 'linkway', connecting the area's homes to the new coastal promenades planned along Sungei Serangoon and Sungei Punggol. Two new sports complexes are in the pipeline too. The one for Sengkang new town will open by mid-2005, while the other, for Punggol new town, is slated to be ready in 2008.

A 15 ha industrial park will be developed at Paya Lebar, to provide residents job opportunities closer to home.

An exhibition of the plans for the region starts today at the ground floor atrium of the URA Centre at Maxwell Road. It's on until May 14.

I am happy that all these projects get underway and nearing completion. Currently, I live in the eastern part of Singapore (Geylang) and has lived before in the Northern Part (Yishun), but never had the chance to go the North Eastern part. With the coming NE MRT line, I should be able to go to NE places which I had never been like Punggol, Hougang and Sengkang. Cheers!

I think I wont be in Singapore when the NE lines open.
Swatch, try it and tell me how it is:D

I myself seldom venture to the northeast..hopefully it will have some nice office buildings like Novena.

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by RafflesCity </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>I think I wont be in Singapore when the NE lines open.
Swatch, try it and tell me how it is:D

I myself seldom venture to the northeast..hopefully it will have some nice office buildings like Novena.</td></tr>
</table>

@Raffles, where are u going then?.....I think the NE MRT line will open on May?

yup..not sure which part of May though. I'll be going back to London:)

nice plan.

Scrapers in NE?? Yeah rite. :D I live in Hougang, and I think its a big exageration to say Orchard is coming here. Serangoon Central is sleepy, and from what I recon, it will remain that way for some time. Serangoon town is just too small to give it that buzz, and esp when its surrounded by monster towns like Ang Mo Kio, Hougang and Sengkang.

And basically no high-rises above about 20 storeys will pop up here, since you have an airbase to the east, and a small civilian airport to the north. Only in some pockets do you find buildings up to 25 storeys, especially to the west. The authorities are just paranoid about planes falling from the sky, or maybe in case some pilot trainee from the airbase decides to pull a stunt over the skies of Hougang? :D :D

Another is the addition of 123,000 homes to what used to be mostly poultry and pig farms

So is there any farming of any kind left in Singapore? Or is 100% of the food imported now?

Thare are some high-tech farms and agribiology parks dotting the island.:)

aiya huaiwei.. the NE line will bring some life into the NE area la :D Plus, not many housin estates are very lively anyway.. But i agree that serangoon is especially quiet :)

After all these while, when the line was open, do I see life?? :D

Any new developments from your area huaiwei?:cheers:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Any new developments from your area huaiwei?:cheers: Er...in terms of scraper development? ;)

err I guess not in scrapers but in terms of whats been mentioned in the article:cool:

was browsing through the Master Plan 2003 and discovered that Hillview estate is gone!!! :bash: they going 2 have SERS for that area or has it been announced?

Can we have a brief introduction of the masterplan and concept plans?

And what is SERS?

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Can we have a brief introduction of the masterplan and concept plans?

And what is SERS? U seem to have lost touch with Singapore?? U have been overseas for a very long time? :?

SERS: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa024p.nsf/1ab9a555998d96b4482567050028f2f8/813d0128e466aa4a48256b74002e217d?OpenDocument

master plan 2003: http://www.ura.gov.sg/ppd/gazettedmp2003/index.htm
concept plan 2001: http://www.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2001/introduction.html

LOL no I havent lost touch with Singapore of course there is still a lot of it I havent discovered.:cool:

But its good to know what we are going to discuss in this thread. Is it meant for all future developments apart from MRT like land reclamation etc?

btw the new Downtown, the education hub at Bras Basah and the Southern Ridges are part of this masterplan if I am not wrong. We do have separate threads to discuss those:cheers:

main purpose of this thread is for ppl to post any discovery they have while studying the plans, esp the master plan since it's more detailed... impossible for me to go through the whole plan so hopefully there r some boliao ppl like me... :D

and also if any1 wanna post a thesis...... :laugh:

Originally posted by kenmin

and also if any1 wanna post a thesis...... :laugh: Damn! :D

Anyway this can be further expanded into our very own thread all about urban planning here...not nexcesarily on specific developments. Lets keep it as it is! ;)

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Can we have a brief introduction of the masterplan and concept plans?

And what is SERS?

Here is the rescue from JediAlf!

---------------------
CONCEPT PLAN

Every 10 years since 1971, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) drafts the Concept Plan to define the proposals to make Singapore City more interesting to live in, work in and play in.

Concept Plan usually comes with map with coloured zones and rail lines and roads (both minor and major as well as expressways etc)

Coloured zones are to be drafted to be either residental, commercial, special use (military, civilian institutes like universities, changi airport etc), industrial.

So far URA has done Concept Plan 1971, Concept Plan 1991 and Concept Plan 2001.

Concept Plan maps the vision of URA of what Singapore looks like in next 40-50 years later.

---------------------
MASTER PLAN

Quote from URA:
"The Master Plan is the statutory land use plan which guides Singapore's development in the medium term, over the next 10 to 15 years. It is reviewed once every five years, and translates the broad long-term strategies as set out in the Concept Plan into detailed implementable plans for Singapore. It shows the permissible land use and density for every parcel of land in Singapore."

"The Master Plan 2003 is accompanied by Special and Detailed Controls Plans which highlight areas subject to special guidelines."

Thanks for the info. I checked out URA's website and the masterplan 2003 has an interesting zoom in zoom out map in great detail. Anyway here's the Concept Plan 2001 for reference..

http://www.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2001/images/bigmap.gif

they should have given a bigger pic in their webby. this is too small.

wan us to pay $10 2 get a copy of the Concept Plan? :bash:

anyway, 1991 concept plan is still available for sale at $8.

why is it still available? for us to compare how much cockup they have made 10yrs ago?? let us see the how wrong their predictions were? :laugh:

Originally posted by kenmin

they should have given a bigger pic in their webby. this is too small.

wan us to pay $10 2 get a copy of the Concept Plan? :bash:

anyway, 1991 concept plan is still available for sale at $8.

why is it still available? for us to compare how much cockup they have made 10yrs ago?? let us see the how wrong their predictions were? :laugh: Er...the biggest piff for me was buying the Master Plan 1998 for about $80 I tink....

Last year, just before the Master Plan 2003 appeared, the entire Master Plan content was available online for free!!!! :bash: :bleep: :rant: :bash: :bleep: :rant: :mad: :devil: :D

The Coastal Expressway to Marina South looks exciting..wonder when it will be built. I also see a blue lane running next to it.

And when will they build that island next to East Coast? Looks also like the bridges to connect Ubin & Tekong with the mainland have run into complications due to our neighbour?

Hm.....the links to the islands are underground...so I doubt they wil pose much problems? ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Hm.....the links to the islands are underground...so I doubt they wil pose much problems? ;)

oh..where did you read of that?

The reason I read why our northern neighbour opposed the bridges was because they would obstruct maritime traffic to their port in Pasir Gudang. (well that was not official of course)

Oh.,..I was basing that assumption on the fact that the plans consistently showed a dotted line?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Oh.,..I was basing that assumption on the fact that the plans consistently showed a dotted line? which plan? anyway, it's so expensive to go underground. unless necessary, dun think the govt is so extravagant.

Originally posted by kenmin

which plan? anyway, it's so expensive to go underground. unless necessary, dun think the govt is so extravagant. Its in the two concept plans so far...

Originally posted by huaiwei

Its in the two concept plans so far... i suppose it just meant future roads......

anyway, i dun see it leh.

Originally posted by kenmin

i suppose it just meant future roads......

anyway, i dun see it leh. Oh...coz the dotted part is ony in the streatch over the water mah....so I made the presumption...

Aye yar hor..cant seem to see it clearly in the 2001 addition of the Concept Plan......

Originally posted by huaiwei

Oh...coz the dotted part is ony in the streatch over the water mah....so I made the presumption...

Aye yar hor..cant seem to see it clearly in the 2001 addition of the Concept Plan...... the 1 in 1991 version also dun have wat.:?

is it going to be a HDB new town or Private Estate?? :?

Originally posted by kenmin

the 1 in 1991 version also dun have wat.:? You have a copy of that plan? I vaguely remember lah....maybe you can post it to verify? Thanks! ;)

i only got the hard copy.

Originally posted by kenmin

i only got the hard copy. I just realised I have a copy in my PC too...haha....and whoops! Its NOT in the concept plan! Now I cant remember where i saw it. :D

Originally posted by kenmin

is it going to be a HDB new town or Private Estate?? :? The news I heard so far was public housing?

Originally posted by huaiwei

The news I heard so far was public housing? hmmm... HDB, URA already mentioned about Simpang 21, Seletar 21 many years ago but no1 is toking about Woodleigh 21 when the MRT station is already built... :?

Originally posted by kenmin

hmmm... HDB, URA already mentioned about Simpang 21, Seletar 21 many years ago but no1 is toking about Woodleigh 21 when the MRT station is already built... :? Maybe coz al those were whoile new towns, while Bidadari may ony be an estate....like Potong Pasir?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Maybe coz al those were whoile new towns, while Bidadari may ony be an estate....like Potong Pasir? tear down the cemetery just 2 build an estate?! :bleep:

Actually they should combine it with Potong Pasir to form a new town.

Originally posted by kenmin

tear down the cemetery just 2 build an estate?! :bleep:

Actually they should combine it with Potong Pasir to form a new town. Why not? Its not the ony converted cemetery wat..Bishan is a prime example for this! ;)

cemeteries are really an expensive luxury in a land starved country as singapore. if i outlive my parents, i would have their ashes kept in very gorgeous cracked porcelain (song dynasty?) vases. or squash their ashes into diamonds.

There used to be a cemetery at Novena. It now houses the MRT station and the towering blocks of Novena Square.

I remember some silly newspaper articles in the late 80s alleging that Novena MRT station was haunted! :eek:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

There used to be a cemetery at Novena. It now houses the MRT station and the towering blocks of Novena Square.

I remember some silly newspaper articles in the late 80s alleging that Novena MRT station was haunted! :eek: Oh yeah I remember that. I suppose it is now stil hunted by TTSH and Police ghosts?? :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Oh yeah I remember that. I suppose it is now stil hunted by TTSH and Police ghosts?? :D

eh I dont wanna know..although hospitals are 'dirty' places..heh heh..

I'm glad the redevelopment of Novena has turned it around though.

I suppose it is inevitable..so much potential prime land! The same with Bishan, which become one of the hottest public new towns around! ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Why not? Its not the ony converted cemetery wat..Bishan is a prime example for this! ;) Bishan is a New Town . i said it should combine with Potong Pasir to form a new town mar. seems more worth to clear the cemetery lor. not sure about those in Bishan and Novena but i tot those in Bidadari got historical values...

Aiyah...new town or not..its still HDB wat.....

Under HDB's maps, it appears that the entire area including Potong Pasir, Upper Aljunied and the new Bidadari area are all under the boundary of Toa Payoh New Town?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Aiyah...new town or not..its still HDB wat.....

Under HDB's maps, it appears that the entire area including Potong Pasir, Upper Aljunied and the new Bidadari area are all under the boundary of Toa Payoh New Town? new town is bigger scale mar.

btw, r u talking about the URA planning area for Toa Payoh? It's just a boundary drawn for ease of planning lor. if they r going to have big scale plans for the area, they might carve it out to form a new planning area...

However, since they r lumped together with Toa Payoh, that means the development in the Bidadari area will not be large... :bash: :bleep:

Originally posted by kenmin

new town is bigger scale mar.

btw, r u talking about the URA planning area for Toa Payoh? It's just a boundary drawn for ease of planning lor. if they r going to have big scale plans for the area, they might carve it out to form a new planning area... Nope...I was refering to the HDB's town boundaries.

I doubt they wil break it apart. Toa Payoh itsef is not a big town at all, so the combined number would only barey match up to some of the above average ones?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Nope...I was refering to the HDB's town boundaries.

I doubt they wil break it apart. Toa Payoh itsef is not a big town at all, so the combined number would only barey match up to some of the above average ones? but it's not practical to classify them with Toa Payoh New Town mar. If I live in the area, I would rather travel to Serangoon Central.

Originally posted by kenmin

but it's not practical to classify them with Toa Payoh New Town mar. If I live in the area, I would rather travel to Serangoon Central. Beats me...it would depend on how they utiise the potential of so many MRT lines running through the area?

Originally posted by kenmin

but it's not practical to classify them with Toa Payoh New Town mar. If I live in the area, I would rather travel to Serangoon Central.

By the way, Huawei is confirmed correct in classifying Potong Pasir and Bidadari as part of Toa Payoh!

Here is the answer from URA:

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dgp_reports/toapayoh/pp-comm.html

Originally posted by JediAlf

By the way, Huawei is confirmed correct in classifying Potong Pasir and Bidadari as part of Toa Payoh!

Here is the answer from URA:

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dgp_reports/toapayoh/pp-comm.html yar. that's what i mentioned earlier. Toa Payoh Planning Area. It's not equivalent to Toa Payoh New Town. it's more for the planning purpose. Potong Pasir Estate has never been part of Toa Payoh New Town. But most ppl living there would use the services at the centre i suppose.

However, to make Bidadari residents go Toa Payoh would be weird... It is better for them to go Serangoon. or better still start a new town there. :D

Originally posted by kenmin

yar. that's what i mentioned earlier. Toa Payoh Planning Area. It's not equivalent to Toa Payoh New Town. it's more for the planning purpose. Potong Pasir Estate has never been part of Toa Payoh New Town. But most ppl living there would use the services at the centre i suppose.

However, to make Bidadari residents go Toa Payoh would be weird... It is better for them to go Serangoon. or better still start a new town there. :D

Bidadari and Potong Pasir are similiar to estates like Commonwealth, Ghim Goh, Holland, Taman Jurong, West Coast, Boon Lay etc. These estates have commerical centres which are smaller in size - should be in category of Neighbourhood Centres.

In other words, Taman Jurong and Boon Lay are part of massive Jurong West New Town.

Commonwealth, Ghim Goh and Holland are part of Queenstown. It may be sound very odd to you.

West Coast is part of Clementi New Town.

Unless URA/HDB changes the boundaries and put Bidadari in Serangoon New Town.

Here are the figures from HDB on statistics

HDB listed 23 Towns as in HDB Annual reports as at 31st March 2003

1) Ang Mo Kio (638 Hectares) - 160, 300 (estimate) residents
2) Bedok (937) - 199,000
3) Bishan (690) - 67,400
4) Bukit Batok (802) - 108,900
5) Bukit Merah (858) - 147,200
6) Bukit Panjang (489) - 99,800
7) Choa Chu Kang (583) - 133,800
8) Clementi (408) - 82,200
9) Geylang (678) - 95,900
10) Hougang (1,276) - 165, 500
11) Jurong East (384) - 77,500
12) Jurong West (987) - 206,900
13) Kallang/Whampoa (799) - 103,500
14) Pasir Ris (601) - 96,600
15) Punggol (957) - 36,000
16) Queenstown (667) - 92,800
17) Sembawang (708) - 54,700
18) Sengkang (1,055)- 114,900
19) Serangoon (737) - 75, 400
20) Tampines (1,200) - 215,600
21) Toa Payoh (463) - 115,100
22) Woodlands (1,198) - 196,600
23) Yishun (810) - 162,300

Other etates like Bukit Timah, Central and Marina Parade are also listed as estates.

Although URA and HDB have classified Potong Pasir part of Toa Payoh New Town, Potong Pasir is run by its own town council and headed by opposition party. Maybe this is why you find it weird that Potong Pasir is part of Toa Payoh.

There is a huge map of New Town maps in HDB HQ on the wall inside the lobby of HDB HQ. So you can see how big is Toa Payoh New Town.

If you disagree regarding the category of estates, you can always ask HDB planners the questions. They can give you the best answers. :cool:

yay.. tampines has highest population - should be highest priority on list of towns to get lrt

Originally posted by heirloom

yay.. tampines has highest population - should be highest priority on list of towns to get lrt

Laughing. if you combine Jurong East/Jurong West, it should be on top priority to get Jurong LRT running soon. :P

Originally posted by JediAlf

Laughing. if you combine Jurong East/Jurong West, it should be on top priority to get Jurong LRT running soon. :P

:bash: :bash:
jurongs total area of 1371 hectares and higher population density would require a larger and higher density lrt network - which is not umm affordable at th emoment considering the circle line is being built and the economy isnt too good and it might be the 4th consecutive year of budget deficits :D so tampines first :guns1:

Originally posted by JediAlf

Bidadari and Potong Pasir are similiar to estates like Commonwealth, Ghim Goh, Holland, Taman Jurong, West Coast, Boon Lay etc. These estates have commerical centres which are smaller in size - should be in category of Neighbourhood Centres.

In other words, Taman Jurong and Boon Lay are part of massive Jurong West New Town.

Commonwealth, Ghim Goh and Holland are part of Queenstown. It may be sound very odd to you.

West Coast is part of Clementi New Town.

Unless URA/HDB changes the boundaries and put Bidadari in Serangoon New Town.

Here are the figures from HDB on statistics

HDB listed 23 Towns as in HDB Annual reports as at 31st March 2003

1) Ang Mo Kio (638 Hectares) - 160, 300 (estimate) residents
2) Bedok (937) - 199,000
3) Bishan (690) - 67,400
4) Bukit Batok (802) - 108,900
5) Bukit Merah (858) - 147,200
6) Bukit Panjang (489) - 99,800
7) Choa Chu Kang (583) - 133,800
8) Clementi (408) - 82,200
9) Geylang (678) - 95,900
10) Hougang (1,276) - 165, 500
11) Jurong East (384) - 77,500
12) Jurong West (987) - 206,900
13) Kallang/Whampoa (799) - 103,500
14) Pasir Ris (601) - 96,600
15) Punggol (957) - 36,000
16) Queenstown (667) - 92,800
17) Sembawang (708) - 54,700
18) Sengkang (1,055)- 114,900
19) Serangoon (737) - 75, 400
20) Tampines (1,200) - 215,600
21) Toa Payoh (463) - 115,100
22) Woodlands (1,198) - 196,600
23) Yishun (810) - 162,300

Other etates like Bukit Timah, Central and Marina Parade are also listed as estates.

Although URA and HDB have classified Potong Pasir part of Toa Payoh New Town, Potong Pasir is run by its own town council and headed by opposition party. Maybe this is why you find it weird that Potong Pasir is part of Toa Payoh.

There is a huge map of New Town maps in HDB HQ on the wall inside the lobby of HDB HQ. So you can see how big is Toa Payoh New Town.

If you disagree regarding the category of estates, you can always ask HDB planners the questions. They can give you the best answers. :cool: Very well answered!! ;)

The issue here is not realy to do with how far or how big the place is, or where the people choose to go shopping and so on. The way the authorities decide to demarcate things can be unrealistic sometimes, but what can we do about it?

Do refer to the town maps in the HDB Annual Reports, which clearly indicate how Toa Payoh is configured spatialy.

BTW, Simei is also one example of a "new town" which was supposed to be independent, but it seems like it has come under the charge of big brother Tampines next door? This is despite it having its own street numbering system, its own "town centre", its own block numbering and neighbourhood system, and so on! ;)

Originally posted by heirloom

:bash: :bash:
jurongs total area of 1371 hectares and higher population density would require a larger and higher density lrt network - which is not umm affordable at th emoment considering the circle line is being built and the economy isnt too good and it might be the 4th consecutive year of budget deficits :D so tampines first :guns1: As I mentioned, Tampines stats includes Simei next door, so it is already cheating too! :D

This is going to be a real challenge, but let me try posting the ENTIRE Master plan avaialable on the web here! :D

I found three sets from the URA website. The first one here is the very first master plan to be drawn up for Singapore, dated 1958. It was first prepared by the Singapore Improvement Trust during 1952-1955 and approved by the Government in August 1958. Since then, there has been 7 revisions, with the 2003 one as the latest edition.

Since the maps are huge, I will try to spread them over as many pages as I can. Feel free to save the images to your hard drive, before they suddenly take them off the site, as they have done so for the 1998 edition! :bleep: :D

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58index.jpg

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58imlegend1.jpg

As can be seen in the above legend, there are three levels of maps provided. I will post them from the biggest sized ones to the smallest:

Island Map Sheet 1

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58im1.jpg

Island Map Sheet 2

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58im2.jpg

Island Map Sheet 3

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58im3.jpg

Island Map Sheet 4

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58im4.jpg

Island Map Sheet 6

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58im6.jpg

Island Map Sheet 7

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58im7.jpg

Island Map Sheet 8

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58im8.jpg

Island Map Sheet 9

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58im9.jpg

What follows now, are the Town Maps...

Town Map Sheet 131

(Serangoon Gardens Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm131.jpg

Town Map Sheet 132

(Hougang Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm132.jpg

Town Map Sheet 147

(Jalan Anak Bukit Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm147.jpg

Town Map Sheet 148

(Bukit Timah Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm148.jpg

Town Map Sheet 149

(MacRitchie Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm149.jpg

Town Map Sheet 150

(Upper Thomson Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm150.jpg

Town Map Sheet 151

(Braddell Heights Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm151.jpg

Town Map Sheet 152

(Hugang Area) p.s. This is where I live!! :D

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm152.jpg

Let me pause here for a moment...I fear I have overloaded their bandwidth!! :D

Very detailed!

Are those just normal maps? What do the colours indicate? Do they show anything for the future? Would be cool to see the new downtown area.

The legend is found on the previous page lah! :D

And how to have NDT plans in a map which is like...done in 1958?? ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Very well answered!! ;)

The issue here is not realy to do with how far or how big the place is, or where the people choose to go shopping and so on. The way the authorities decide to demarcate things can be unrealistic sometimes, but what can we do about it?

Do refer to the town maps in the HDB Annual Reports, which clearly indicate how Toa Payoh is configured spatialy.

BTW, Simei is also one example of a "new town" which was supposed to be independent, but it seems like it has come under the charge of big brother Tampines next door? This is despite it having its own street numbering system, its own "town centre", its own block numbering and neighbourhood system, and so on! ;) Seems like HDB is following URA's Planning Area in their annual report, or is it the other way?? :?

But SBS has it's own version. they have never provided any feeder service to Potong Pasir Estate. I suppose they follow the definition given on the road direction signs for new town. seen them at AMK, Clementi, Hougang and Yishun... They only included the HDB neighbourhoods.

Anyway, they can be rezoned.. Like part of an unused area of Yishun has been given to Sembawang... Think will see Bidadari carved out from Toa Payoh Planning Area when the area is ready for development...

Simei is only an estate lar.. it's too small to be a new town.

Originally posted by huaiwei
Since the maps are huge, I will try to spread them over as many pages as I can. Feel free to save the images to your hard drive, before they suddenly take them off the site, as they have done so for the 1998 edition! :bleep: :D remove better mah.. at least now u can feel the worth of ur $80. :runaway:

Originally posted by kenmin

Seems like HDB is following URA's Planning Area in their annual report, or is it the other way?? :?

But SBS has it's own version. they have never provided any feeder service to Potong Pasir Estate. I suppose they follow the definition given on the road direction signs for new town. seen them at AMK, Clementi, Hougang and Yishun... They only included the HDB neighbourhoods.

Anyway, they can be rezoned.. Like part of an unused area of Yishun has been given to Sembawang... Think will see Bidadari carved out from Toa Payoh Planning Area when the area is ready for development...

Simei is only an estate lar.. it's too small to be a new town.

Originally posted by kenmin

Seems like HDB is following URA's Planning Area in their annual report, or is it the other way?? :?

But SBS has it's own version. they have never provided any feeder service to Potong Pasir Estate. I suppose they follow the definition given on the road direction signs for new town. seen them at AMK, Clementi, Hougang and Yishun... They only included the HDB neighbourhoods.

Anyway, they can be rezoned.. Like part of an unused area of Yishun has been given to Sembawang... Think will see Bidadari carved out from Toa Payoh Planning Area when the area is ready for development...

Simei is only an estate lar.. it's too small to be a new town.

SBS Transit currently operates service (scv) 142 to Potong Pasir from Toa Payoh. Scv 147 used to terminate at Potong Pasir from Jurong East before changing its route to Upper Serangoon from Clementi and then to Hougang Central from Clementi.

It is not likely for Toa Payoh to give away Bidadari because of the boundaries. This land is still needed for the growth of Toa Payoh New Town.

Even Teban Garden and Pandan Garden are in boundaries of Jurong East!

Most of towns have a bus interchange/terminals which correspond to the location of towns/estates set by URA and HDB.

Some towns have more than one MRT stations depending on the size and the boundaries of new town.

For example, Toa Payoh has 4 stations - Toa Payoh and Braddell, Potong Pasir and Woodleigh. Jurong West has two stations - Lakeside and Boon lay. Jurong East has two stations - Jurong East and Chinese Garden. etc.

Originally posted by kenmin

But SBS has it's own version. they have never provided any feeder service to Potong Pasir Estate. I suppose they follow the definition given on the road direction signs for new town. seen them at AMK, Clementi, Hougang and Yishun... They only included the HDB neighbourhoods.

Anyway, they can be rezoned.. Like part of an unused area of Yishun has been given to Sembawang... Think will see Bidadari carved out from Toa Payoh Planning Area when the area is ready for development...

Simei is only an estate lar.. it's too small to be a new town. Now that they removed every feeder service from Hougang, then we wont be a new town meh? :D Anyway, dont ake their routing too seriously lah. Remember that N4 and N5 of Jurong West is served by Jurong East Interchange.

However, you are right about Yishun. But its more like snatching away a section to incorporate into a new town? Duno if they have anything to snatch from smallish Toa Payoh! ;)

Simei was established as a new town. Just look up any of the street directories...even the present one! :colgate:

Originally posted by kenmin

remove better mah.. at least now u can feel the worth of ur $80. :runaway: :bash: :D

I feel like digging them up again....coz I have a feeling the files are still hidden somewhere!

Originally posted by huaiwei

Now that they removed every feeder service from Hougang, then we wont be a new town meh? :D Anyway, dont ake their routing too seriously lah. Remember that N4 and N5 of Jurong West is served by Jurong East Interchange.

However, you are right about Yishun. But its more like snatching away a section to incorporate into a new town? Duno if they have anything to snatch from smallish Toa Payoh! ;)

Simei was established as a new town. Just look up any of the street directories...even the present one! :colgate: now SBS only looks towards $$$... not like last time so they r removing as many feeder services when they have the chance... last time simei also has a feeder fr tampines... but potong pasir has never got a feeder fr toa payoh. it's always served by a trunk service.

the status of simei seems ambiguous. both the terms new town and estate r used...

Originally posted by kenmin

now SBS only looks towards $$$... not like last time so they r removing as many feeder services when they have the chance... last time simei also has a feeder fr tampines... but potong pasir has never got a feeder fr toa payoh. it's always served by a trunk service.

the status of simei seems ambiguous. both the terms new town and estate r used...

It is very clear that SBS Transit is gonna scrap ALL feeder services. Over years, gradually all feeder services would be replaced by intra-town services in order to max the resources and manpower.

Status of Simei is Estate as illustrated by HDB when I was scanning the map in HDB HUB wall. Simei Estate is under the boundaries of Tampines.

Originally posted by kenmin

now SBS only looks towards $$$... not like last time so they r removing as many feeder services when they have the chance... last time simei also has a feeder fr tampines... but potong pasir has never got a feeder fr toa payoh. it's always served by a trunk service.

the status of simei seems ambiguous. both the terms new town and estate r used... But its not like feeder services means its part of the town loh.....Teban gardens was once served by the old Jurong Interchange...not in Jurong East leh...Bedok Reservoir served by Eunos AND Bedok leh...so how? :D

Originally posted by JediAlf

It is very clear that SBS Transit is gonna scrap ALL feeder services. Over years, gradually all feeder services would be replaced by intra-town services in order to max the resources and manpower.

Actually it seems to me that they are abandoning the intra-town system as well. Look at how they changed the configuration of some services in Pasir Ris, Tampines and Bedok. They reconfigured the 5 feeder services of Hougang and turned them into 3 trunk servies. Why not intra-town? Piece of shit man.....

BTW, why not we do discussions about these transport issues in the "General Transportation Thread"? ;)

Originally posted by JediAlf

Status of Simei is Estate as illustrated by HDB when I was scanning the map in HDB HUB wall. Simei Estate is under the boundaries of Tampines. That must be the latest configuration then. It will be the second "demotion" that I am aware of. Telok Blangah was once a new town too, and hence has become part of Bukit Merah instead! ;)

Town Map Sheet 167

(Ulu Pandan Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm167.jpg

Town Map Sheet 168

(Bukit Timah Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm168.jpg

Town Map Sheet 169

(Adam Road Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm169.jpg

Town Map Sheet 170

(Mount Pleasant Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm170.jpg

Town Map Sheet 171

(Potong Pasir Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm171.jpg

Town Map Sheet 172

(MacPherson Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm172.jpg

Town Map Sheet 153/173

(Kaki Bukit Area)

http://www.ura.gov.sg/dc/mp58/dcdmp58tm153_173.jpg

Originally posted by huaiwei

But its not like feeder services means its part of the town loh.....Teban gardens was once served by the old Jurong Interchange...not in Jurong East leh...Bedok Reservoir served by Eunos AND Bedok leh...so how? :D but having a trunk service instead of a feeder to serve that area means it's not part of the town...

Originally posted by huaiwei

That must be the latest configuration then. It will be the second "demotion" that I am aware of. Telok Blangah was once a new town too, and hence has become part of Bukit Merah instead! ;) Telok Blangah was supposed to be a new town also? always tot it's part of Bukit Merah many many years ago...

Originally posted by kenmin

but having a trunk service instead of a feeder to serve that area means it's not part of the town... Aiyah..where got like that see one lah....

Pasir Ris service 6 goes to Loyang Industrail estate, when its supposed to be within Pasir Ris's town borders, for eg. ;) And there is no feeder in Queenstown..so how? :D

Originally posted by kenmin

Telok Blangah was supposed to be a new town also? always tot it's part of Bukit Merah many many years ago... Yes it is.....just refer to any old map! :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Aiyah..where got like that see one lah....

Pasir Ris service 6 goes to Loyang Industrail estate, when its supposed to be within Pasir Ris's town borders, for eg. ;) And there is no feeder in Queenstown..so how? :D btw, i m talking about the past when SBS still dun really care about $$... so we cannot compare to the services now.. they r trying very hard to remove the feeder services..

Queenstown dun even have an interchange.. how to have feeder??

btw, ur town boundary follows the URA planning area rite?? dat's what we r dissenting mar...

Originally posted by kenmin

btw, i m talking about the past when SBS still dun really care about $$... so we cannot compare to the services now.. they r trying very hard to remove the feeder services..

Queenstown dun even have an interchange.. how to have feeder?? Yeah..but service 6 is not new wat..its around for more then a decade! :D

Also...Bishan didnt have any feeder service until the introduction of 410? Before that, 57 used to go from the town centre to Sin Ming Ave. ;)

Originally posted by kenmin

btw, ur town boundary follows the URA planning area rite?? dat's what we r dissenting mar... No....I am looking at 1992 town maps...........

last time they have plans for lotsa circus.. now only left how many in singapore?

i only know newton, serangoon garden, picadilly and amber..

Dont think got anymore liao...unless u want to count the little one at the junction of Telok Paku Road and Nicoll Drive? :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Yeah..but service 6 is not new wat..its around for more then a decade! :D

Also...Bishan didnt have any feeder service until the introduction of 410? Before that, 57 used to go from the town centre to Sin Ming Ave. ;)
so it's pretty obvious that Loyang Industrial Estate is not part of Pasir Ris new town... Anyway, if i remember correctly, industrial estate though located at the fringe of a new town, is not considered as part of it.

57 serves sin ming and bishan central only? i think it goes beyond dat...

Originally posted by kenmin

so it's pretty obvious that Loyang Industrial Estate is not part of Pasir Ris new town... Anyway, if i remember correctly, industrial estate though located at the fringe of a new town, is not considered as part of it.

57 serves sin ming and bishan central only? i think it goes beyond dat... Wrong. Loyang is part of it according to the 1992 town maps, which were provided by HDB!! How can u use bus services to make conclusions like that?! :bash: ;)

Defu Industrail estate used to be served by service 323 for years, until they removed the feeder service a few years ago (during the time when feeder services were being removed one by one) So now, Defu is suddenly not part of Hougang? :D Isnt it clearly an "industrial estate located at the fringe of a new town"?

The route of service 57 in the year of 1989 was

"Bishan Interchange, Bishan St 13, st 11, st 21, Marymount Lane, Upp Thomson Road, Sin Ming Ave, loop

And return via Sin Ming Dr, Sin ming Lane, Sin Ming Road, Sector C, Sin Ming Dri, Sin Ming Ave, Upp Thomson Rd, Marymount Lane, Bishan St 21, St 11, St 13 and Bishan Interchange." I know this for sure, coz I copied it from a 1989 guide which I own! ;)

BTW, the 1979 bus map I have also clearly have a "New town" map of Telok Blangah....without showing whats above the AYE!

Originally posted by JediAlf
It is not likely for Toa Payoh to give away Bidadari because of the boundaries. This land is still needed for the growth of Toa Payoh New Town.
It doesn't make sense 2 force Bidadari to be part of Toa Payoh New Town just for the growth of it. if Toa Payoh Centre is developed based on this format, it may b disatrous.

it will be planned to include the population fr Bidadari.. but will the residents go there? no. they will choose Serangoon instead. the 2 stations in this area r only 1 station away. what will happen then? not enough ppl to sustain the businesses at Toa Payoh centre.

if toa payoh need to grow, it should 'snatch' fr balestier area. :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Wrong. Loyang is part of it according to the 1992 town maps, which were provided by HDB!! How can u use bus services to make conclusions like that?! :bash: ;)

Defu Industrail estate used to be served by service 323 for years, until they removed the feeder service a few years ago (during the time when feeder services were being removed one by one) So now, Defu is suddenly not part of Hougang? :D Isnt it clearly an "industrial estate located at the fringe of a new town"?

The route of service 57 in the year of 1989 was

"Bishan Interchange, Bishan St 13, st 11, st 21, Marymount Lane, Upp Thomson Road, Sin Ming Ave, loop

And return via Sin Ming Dr, Sin ming Lane, Sin Ming Road, Sector C, Sin Ming Dri, Sin Ming Ave, Upp Thomson Rd, Marymount Lane, Bishan St 21, St 11, St 13 and Bishan Interchange." I know this for sure, coz I copied it from a 1989 guide which I own! ;)

BTW, the 1979 bus map I have also clearly have a "New town" map of Telok Blangah....without showing whats above the AYE! i already say, not having feeder means not part of the town but i din say having feeder means it's part of the town wat. :bash:

regarding sin ming.. i think SBS was trying 2 be lame to say upper thomson wasn't part of bishan new town.. dunno... just my guess.. anyway, they finally provided feeder, din they?? but for so many years, they din bother about Potong Pasir.. why? cos they r considered independent fr Toa Payoh.. if not, with an opposition MP, he would make more noise than the rest rite??

Originally posted by kenmin

It doesn't make sense 2 force Bidadari to be part of Toa Payoh New Town just for the growth of it. if Toa Payoh Centre is developed based on this format, it may b disatrous.

it will be planned to include the population fr Bidadari.. but will the residents go there? no. they will choose Serangoon instead. the 2 stations in this area r only 1 station away. what will happen then? not enough ppl to sustain the businesses at Toa Payoh centre.

if toa payoh need to grow, it should 'snatch' fr balestier area. :D Actually I dont think they are going to "plan" bidadari as part of Toa Payoh under the new town concept. I believe it will be an independent state, but it might come under Toa Payoh only for administrative purposes like Simei and so on? ;)

Balestier Area is now formerly part of the Novena/whompoa town liao lah. :D

Originally posted by kenmin

i already say, not having feeder means not part of the town but i din say having feeder means it's part of the town wat. :bash: Either way, I still disagree anyway! :D

Originally posted by kenmin

regarding sin ming.. i think SBS was trying 2 be lame to say upper thomson wasn't part of bishan new town.. dunno... just my guess.. anyway, they finally provided feeder, din they?? but for so many years, they din bother about Potong Pasir.. why? cos they r considered independent fr Toa Payoh.. if not, with an opposition MP, he would make more noise than the rest rite?? I suspect its because Bishan was newly incorporated as a new town, assimilating what was previously sin Ming Estate?

Just like Teban Garens, which was merged into Jurong East, Boon Lay and Taman Jurong were merged into Jurong West, Marsiling into Woodlands, Teck Whye into Choa Chu Kang, and so on? ;)

I have often felt that Potong Pasir only had 142 mainly bec of politics! :colgate:

Originally posted by huaiwei

Actually I dont think they are going to "plan" bidadari as part of Toa Payoh under the new town concept. I believe it will be an independent state, but it might come under Toa Payoh only for administrative purposes like Simei and so on? ;)

Balestier Area is not formerly part of the Novena/whompoa town liao lah. :D precisely. it's the same for Potong Pasir.. :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Actually I dont think they are going to "plan" bidadari as part of Toa Payoh under the new town concept. I believe it will be an independent state, but it might come under Toa Payoh only for administrative purposes like Simei and so on? ;)

Balestier Area is not formerly part of the Novena/whompoa town liao lah. :D

Bidadari may become an estate of Toa Payoh just like Potong Pasir, Holland, Commonwealth, West Coast, Teban Gardens, Simei etc.

Balestier is part of Kallang/Whampoa boundaries.

We gotta respect the decision of URA and HDB that dictate where towns and estates fall in.

Originally posted by JediAlf

Bidadari may become an estate of Toa Payoh just like Potong Pasir, Holland, Commonwealth, West Coast, Teban Gardens, Simei etc.

Balestier is part of Kallang/Whampoa boundaries.

We gotta respect the decision of URA and HDB that dictate where towns and estates fall in. respect?! that's plain stupidity, i would say.:bash:

Originally posted by huaiwei

Balestier Area is now formerly part of the Novena/whompoa town liao lah. :D I meant to say "now" earlier....typo. Paiseh paiseh. :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

I meant to say "now" earlier....typo. Paiseh paiseh. :D can tell. though when i first read it, i also find it weird... :colgate:

Originally posted by kenmin

can tell. though when i first read it, i also find it weird... :colgate: Yeah lah....I tend to leave typos all over...but some typos can be highly misleading! :D

Originally posted by kenmin

respect?! that's plain stupidity, i would say.:bash:

How to argue with them and disagree with the city planners when they are the ones who do all dirty jobs, drafting plans and dictate which areas would be sent to be implemented?

You will understand when you become a city planner. It is not easy to appease millions, ensure everyone is comfortable.

Even you disagree, the best thing we can do is respect these planners. They know more than we do.

If only they have given us ample of documentaries of how new town is planned and drafted. We can understand truly how things are planned. :D

When I see the city models, I never stop admiring that Singapore always plan ahead and pull off beautiful skyline which photos were shown to us and we went wow.

Sigh...no wonder I decided to change my career plans midway through my course! :bash: :D

I m beginning to hate those planners. The south of singapore river was never known as clarke quay.. for ease of planning, they put it into part of clarke quay. can understand that... but just keep the old name lar. why change name?!!! those bunch of idiots! :bleep:

What was the old name?

Originally posted by huaiwei

What was the old name? Boat Quay.. or more localised name would be "new market" i suppose is to distinguish between lau par sat??

Chinese also got a name for this area.. "chai chuan tou" literally wood quay. all these names can't be used meh?? why must impose a name dat has nothing 2 do with that area?!:wtf:

saw the big map u have mentioned at HDB HUB today... it is actually the URA planning area...

i think i can come up with an analogy for this.

say planning area = state
new town = metro city
rest of area = city, town, villages etc..

but this is only on URA/HDB drawing board, so when there is a need, they can still change it easily.. like what happened to Yishun/Sembawang...

something like dat... :D

You are saying clarke quay was known as boat quay??

Originally posted by kenmin

saw the big map u have mentioned at HDB HUB today... it is actually the URA planning area...

i think i can come up with an analogy for this.

say planning area = state
new town = metro city
rest of area = city, town, villages etc..

but this is only on URA/HDB drawing board, so when there is a need, they can still change it easily.. like what happened to Yishun/Sembawang...

something like dat... :D So you went to HDB when i went to URA! :D Where exactly was the map you saw at HDB? In the gallery?

The maps by HDB dosent seem to conform to URA's in many instances?

Originally posted by huaiwei

You are saying clarke quay was known as boat quay?? no lar. told u b4 mar... only north of singapore river is clarke quay.. south is boat quay... datz why the name for NE5 is so salah.

Originally posted by huaiwei

So you went to HDB when i went to URA! :D Where exactly was the map you saw at HDB? In the gallery?

The maps by HDB dosent seem to conform to URA's in many instances? passby so i just went in to take a look lor... it's not the gallery but the 1 on first floor where all the counters r... east end of it.

btw, the gallery has a bigger concept plan.. can see the rail routes better rite. :D

Originally posted by kenmin

no lar. told u b4 mar... only north of singapore river is clarke quay.. south is boat quay... datz why the name for NE5 is so salah. Aiyah......boundaries can be redefined as long as the authorities want it wat...so many other places have had their pace names shifted or changed before anyway...

Originally posted by huaiwei

Aiyah......boundaries can be redefined as long as the authorities want it wat...so many other places have had their pace names shifted or changed before anyway... yar. if clarke quay is still functioning as a quay... then i can't say anything... but now they r all historical names.. how can anyhow change?! :bash:

The part u are takling about is less then 200 metres....just get over it lah...

There are countless other places which are many kilometres off, but what can we do? ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

The part u are takling about is less then 200 metres....just get over it lah...

There are countless other places which are many kilometres off, but what can we do? ;) 1 day, i will head URA and make them change back all the names... :lol:

btw, u ain't referring to Marine Parade GRC, r u??

Oh no...:D

No I wasent just talking about political names lah.....name changes due to planning is obviously much more permanent.

For eg, the entie area north of where i live was supposed to be Pungool, and the area south, Serangoon. Now suddenly got this thing called "Hougang" popping up?

Ang Mo Kio was onced used to refer to the area now called Sin Ming or Marymount! :bash:

And so on and so forth lah. :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Oh no...:D

No I wasent just talking about political names lah.....name changes due to planning is obviously much more permanent.

For eg, the entie area north of where i live was supposed to be Pungool, and the area south, Serangoon. Now suddenly got this thing called "Hougang" popping up?

Ang Mo Kio was onced used to refer to the area now called Sin Ming or Marymount! :bash:

And so on and so forth lah. :D ur example is totally different... its giving a new name cos the area is too big. after spliting them, must have something to differentiate rite? furthermore these names r not invented by the authority.. it's based on wat the local ppl call dat area mar.

some historical background..

AMK was so called because of this Thomson guy who built 9 bridges near AMK area.. so it's red hair'sbridge.. to make it sound nicer, they change the chinese character.. i think is something like dat... last time channel 5 got 1 show actually went to look for the bridges rite??

and dunno which idiot wanna associate it with tomato now cos it sounds like.. :bash: look at the no. of tomatoes in AMK central. :wtf:

Upper Serangoon Road was known as Hougang xxx miles to the Chinese in the past...

Originally posted by kenmin

ur example is totally different... its giving a new name cos the area is too big. after spliting them, must have something to differentiate rite? furthermore these names r not invented by the authority.. it's based on wat the local ppl call dat area mar. How come place big big means can anyhow name it meh....when it already got another name? :D This will be a much bigger sin then your 200m thing! :colgate:

Originally posted by kenmin

some historical background..

AMK was so called because of this Thomson guy who built 9 bridges near AMK area.. so it's red hair'sbridge.. to make it sound nicer, they change the chinese character.. i think is something like dat... last time channel 5 got 1 show actually went to look for the bridges rite??

and dunno which idiot wanna associate it with tomato now cos it sounds like.. :bash: look at the no. of tomatoes in AMK central. :wtf:

Upper Serangoon Road was known as Hougang xxx miles to the Chinese in the past... Haha..yeah lah I know about the bridge thing. Dunno how likes tomatoes so much.......

I noticed the ASin Ming area was called Ang Mo Kio by refereing to the 1958 Master Plan! ;)

Originally posted by kenmin

saw the big map u have mentioned at HDB HUB today... it is actually the URA planning area...

i think i can come up with an analogy for this.

say planning area = state
new town = metro city
rest of area = city, town, villages etc..

but this is only on URA/HDB drawing board, so when there is a need, they can still change it easily.. like what happened to Yishun/Sembawang...

something like dat... :D

Oh my goodness!!!!

HDB map in HDB Hub is not a planning map. It is more a reference map with details of existing blocks on the map with MRT stations, roads there blah.

URA map in URA building - second level (gallery) is a map based on Concept Plan. It is a planning map - not meant to be taken seriously! It is a rough map, not a exact final blueprint.

Originally posted by huaiwei

How come place big big means can anyhow name it meh....when it already got another name? :D This will be a much bigger sin then your 200m thing! :colgate: i already told u... when u split the area, u gotta rename it rite. of cos can adopt names like Serangoon North, Serangoon Northnortheast, Serangoon NorthEastEast, Serangoon East.... etc if u wan.. :bash: tell me which is easier?

if serangoon really eats into bidadari to form a bigger new town, it is acutally quite alrite to call the area serangoon also since it's for common identity... serangoon new town...

but clarke quay?! why the need for common identity? it's not as if clarke quay is a quay and needs the south for expansion.:bleep:

btw, why everytime i tok about an area, u must make be defend their action for other areas... :bash:

Originally posted by JediAlf

Oh my goodness!!!!

HDB map in HDB Hub is not a planning map. It is more a reference map with details of existing blocks on the map with MRT stations, roads there blah.

URA map in URA building - second level (gallery) is a map based on Concept Plan. It is a planning map - not meant to be taken seriously! It is a rough map, not a exact final blueprint. :bash: i m toking about the Planning Areas not Concept Plan... read carefully.:bash:

Originally posted by kenmin

i already told u... when u split the area, u gotta rename it rite. of cos can adopt names like Serangoon North, Serangoon Northnortheast, Serangoon NorthEastEast, Serangoon East.... etc if u wan.. :bash: tell me which is easier?

if serangoon really eats into bidadari to form a bigger new town, it is acutally quite alrite to call the area serangoon also since it's for common identity... serangoon new town...

but clarke quay?! why the need for common identity? it's not as if clarke quay is a quay and needs the south for expansion.:bleep:

btw, why everytime i tok about an area, u must make be defend their action for other areas... :bash: Im not talking about splitting lah...aiyoh.....Im talking about reorganisation of place names. For planning conveniences, they shifted boundatries over vast areas......so wat is 200 metres? For the same reason, they demarcated the boundary beterrn Boasr and Clarke Quay by the bridge mah...

Have to pull in examples wat...otherwise how do u get a holistic view of things? ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Im not talking about splitting lah...aiyoh.....Im talking about reorganisation of place names. For planning conveniences, they shifted boundatries over vast areas......so wat is 200 metres? For the same reason, they demarcated the boundary beterrn Boasr and Clarke Quay by the bridge mah...

Have to pull in examples wat...otherwise how do u get a holistic view of things? ;) As i have said earlier, shifting boundary is fine for me.. but dun have 2 rename unnecessarily. They can have the name on the drawing board but the actual name of the area should reemain. why must they impose a name that has nothing to do with it in the first place? 5m or 5km doesn't make a diff...

btw, what spark this off is the naming of NE5. just hate it. :bleep:

If you ask me..naming it as Boat Quay will be confusing as well anyway..........

How come the plan for Simpang is so detailed in 1998 but nothing in 2003?? The previous plan has lotsa flaws? who's the planner?:bash:

I thnk they decided to replan it?

Originally posted by huaiwei

I thnk they decided to replan it? but why replan?? not even making amendments to the original plan.. must b very lousy.

Originally posted by kenmin

but why replan?? not even making amendments to the original plan.. must b very lousy. Well..its good they replan actually..I think they recognised certain issues about that place. I am particularly concerned about the presevation of nature spots there.

Originally posted by huaiwei

Well..its good they replan actually..I think they recognised certain issues about that place. I am particularly concerned about the presevation of nature spots there. wanna integrate nature into the new town? sure will be artificial again lar. if wanna be natural, best is leave it alone...

Another possibility is that they tend to without info now is to avoid the public backlash before they finalised anything?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Another possibility is that they tend to without info now is to avoid the public backlash before they finalised anything? maybe.. getting so secretive nowadays..

Originally posted by kenmin

maybe.. getting so secretive nowadays.. Yeah....so many yellow regions......

here's 1 backlash...

why the area around Changi East is not dermacated as special use?? :bash: :bleep: :rant: :D

Originally posted by kenmin

here's 1 backlash...

why the area around Changi East is not dermacated as special use?? :bash: :bleep: :rant: :D I dont noe if I would call it a backlash, but it is clearly in need of an update....or maybe.....for some other special reason? ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

I dont noe if I would call it a backlash, but it is clearly in need of an update....or maybe.....for some other special reason? ;) just drawing the perimeter of the airbase. very sensitive meh? they did it for all the others leh...

anyway, who can tell me wat plot ratio means??:?

Originally posted by kenmin

just drawing the perimeter of the airbase. very sensitive meh? they did it for all the others leh...

anyway, who can tell me wat plot ratio means??:? Maybe the facility might be co-shared between civil and military in future?

Plot ratio is total buildable area to land area?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Maybe the facility might be co-shared between civil and military in future?

Plot ratio is total buildable area to land area? hmmm. quite likely..

i think that's the definition that got me confused. still dun understand. what is buildable area?

umm i remember reading somewhere something like a plot ratio 8:1 can build very high buildings... but it's only 8 times the land area? isn't that very little? how exactly do you calculate?

Originally posted by kenmin

hmmm. quite likely..

i think that's the definition that got me confused. still dun understand. what is buildable area? Er....area that can be used? Lettable area?

Originally posted by heirloom

umm i remember reading somewhere something like a plot ratio 8:1 can build very high buildings... but it's only 8 times the land area? isn't that very little? how exactly do you calculate? yar lor. that's the confusing part.

Originally posted by heirloom

umm i remember reading somewhere something like a plot ratio 8:1 can build very high buildings... but it's only 8 times the land area? isn't that very little? how exactly do you calculate? Hmm..not sure...HDB is usually 2.8, and that includes going up to 25 floors....or more?

yeah... 25 floors can't possibly be 2.8 times the land area? is there some squares and cubes involved somewhere...

Here's the "official" definition from the Master Plan 2003 Writtern Statement:

6.0 Plot Ratio Interpretation

6.1 Subject to paragraph 7, the plot ratios indicated in the Amendment Plan prescribe the maximum permissible intensity for developments within the demarcated area. The actual intensity to be permitted for any development shall be determined by the competent authority subject to the prescribed maximum permissible plot ratio and having regard to the intensity of the surrounding developments.

6.2 The intensity to be permitted for any development is also subject to compliance with all other requirements imposed by the competent authority for the development as provided in paragraph 9.1(ii). The resultant intensity to be permitted for a development may therefore be below the maximum permissible plot ratio prescribed.

6.3 For areas without any prescribed intensity, the plot ratio to be allowed shall be determined by the
competent authority at his discretion.

6.4 Where a development on any land within the demarcated area is approved for:
(i) a use or uses consistent with the zoning of the land in the Amendment Plan; and
(ii) an intensity higher than the prescribed maximum permissible intensity, such approved intensity of the development shall, subject to the provisions of Part V of the Planning Act, be deemed to be the prescribed maximum intensity for the land.

6.5 Where land proposed for development includes land zoned or shown on the Amendment Plan for use as road or waterbody, the maximum permissible floor area for the development shall, subject to paragraph 6.6 be determined as follows:

Area of the land proposed for development X The prescribed plot ratio for the part of the land not zoned or shown for use as road or waterbody

6.6 Paragraph 6.5 shall apply only if the part of the land zoned or shown on the Amendment Plan for use as road or waterbody:
(i) is not the subject of an acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act (Chapter 152); and
(ii) has not been vested in the State.

it's just the interpretation, not definition.

wow suddenly everything becomes murkier :D translation please?

Originally posted by heirloom

umm i remember reading somewhere something like a plot ratio 8:1 can build very high buildings... but it's only 8 times the land area? isn't that very little? how exactly do you calculate?

I thought they teach that in architecture?:?

I think it might be more famliar to those in real estate?

Originally posted by RafflesCity

I thought they teach that in architecture?:?

ummm i'm not taking architecture now? i only took for a month in poly... then now in perth i'm taking year 12..

Originally posted by huaiwei

I think it might be more famliar to those in real estate? go to ur lib and look up on their reference books leh.. :D

Originally posted by kenmin

go to ur lib and look up on their reference books leh.. :D Depends on which book to refer to mah...:D

Originally posted by huaiwei

Depends on which book to refer to mah...:D i also dunno. maybe u go through all of them 1 by 1?? :runaway:

Originally posted by kenmin

i also dunno. maybe u go through all of them 1 by 1?? :runaway: Wah thanks loh!! :bash: :D Just get the defnition from the URA site lah! :colgate:

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline01-04/text/images/03_title.gif

Get set to bask in a more delightful and distinctive Singapore. There will be new waterfront homes, convenient city living, greater connectivity, a whole range of community facilities, additional green spaces close to home and an even more vibrant city centre. Want to know what else you can enjoy in future? Then read on. Skyline checks out the latest Master Plan 2003 for other exciting goodies in store.

Gazetted on 10 December last year, the latest Master Plan 2003 is a blueprint that will guide Singapore’s physical development in the next 10 to 15 years. The key focus is to further improve the quality of our living environment, provide greater flexibility for businesses and retain the identity of unique places.

Homes galore

Good news for new home-owners or those thinking of switching to a new place to live in. More than 300,000 new homes are being planned for in the Master Plan 2003. From idyllic waterfront housing in Punggol and Sengkang, hip city living at Duxton Plain and Pearl’s Hill, to living close to MRT or LRT stations, home- owners will be spoilt for choices in future.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline01-04/text/images/03_picts1.gif

Community facilities at your doorstep

Coming your way are a whole host of community clubs, schools, libraries, hospitals and shops being planned. For example, come next year, residents in Jurong can look forward to a bigger and better Jurong Regional Library, when the current upgrading of Jurong East Community Library is completed. Woodlands will get a new Junior College by 2005 and a Republic Polytechnic by 2006 - Singapore’s fifth polytechnic.

One-stop convenience

In the pipeline are also plans for one-stop convenient facilities, all located in one place. Residents in the East will soon be able to shop, dine and make use of community facilities at the new Tampines Central Community Complex, Singapore’s first community club to be integrated with a commercial centre.

Breezier connections

Getting from place to place will be smoother, with denser rail networks, new and wider roads, integrated transport hubs with commercial centres and pedestrian link ways being planned for. The upcoming MRT Circle Line will be ready by 2010.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline01-04/text/images/03_picts3.gif http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline01-04/text/images/03_picts4.gif

More greens

Those yearning for green spaces and natural outdoors will be glad to know that the Master Plan 2003 has planned for an additional 1,200 ha of green spaces.

Residents can look forward to stroll in new parks close to homes. For example, Woodlands will get a new Woodlands Regional Park. Sengkang will enjoy a 20-ha riverine park. Popular parks like Labrador Park, Pasir Ris Park and Botanic Gardens will also get bigger.

Those wanting to move from park to park can do so more, with an additional 120 km of park connector being planned for. In future, one can even walk or cycle all the way from Pasir Ris Park to East Coast Park!

Beyond parks and park connectors, present and future generations can continue to savour Singapore’s unique natural treasures. For the first time, the Master Plan 2003 has safeguarded four nature reserves - Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Labrador Nature Reserve, which are already legally protected by law. Another 18 Nature Areas are also recognised in the Special and Detailed Control Plan, a non-statutory plan under the Master Plan, with special guidelines.


Keeping memories alive

What adds colour and character to our city are quaint, historic shophouses. More of these will be retained.

Shophouses at Balestier, Jalan Besar, Joo Chiat and Tanjong Katong are conserved under the Master Plan 2003, together with selected buildings at Mount Sophia and Tiong Bahru. Beyond these, familiar places like Siglap Village and Holland Village are also recognised. All these add to our collective treasure trove of happy memories, stories and identity that makes Singapore home.

Balestier
http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline01-04/text/images/03_picts5.gif
Tiong Bahru
http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline01-04/text/images/03_picts6.gif
Holland Village
http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline01-04/text/images/03_picts7.gif

Greater flexibility for businesses

Flexibility is key to businesses today. Therefore, the Master Plan 2003 has introduced a major change in the zoning system so that businesses can vary their uses on a site according to changing market conditions.

The new Business 1 (B1) and Business 2 (B2) zones group five allowable uses, i.e. warehouse, light industry, general industry, utility and telecommunication, according to their impact on the environment. The B1 and B2 zones will replace the Warehouse, Light Industry and General Industry zones in the Master Plan 1998. In addition, the Utility and Telecommunication zones in the Master Plan 1998 will be merged into the a single ‘Utility’ zone to cater to the convergence of utilities and telecommunication activities as technology progresses.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/skyline/skyline01-04/text/images/03_picts8.gif

Going regional

With plans to further develop existing Regional and Sub-Regional Centres, one need not travel all the way to the city to work, shop and play. The Serangoon Sub-Regional Centre will be developed into a vibrant retail and transport hub. New commercial spaces will be added to neighbourhoods like Punggol, Sembawang, Yew Tee and Boon Lay.

Existing commercial centres will also be enhanced. Tampines, Woodlands and Jurong Regional Centres will become more “happening” hubs with comprehensive pedestrian connections, civic spaces and street-level activities. Tampines Regional Centre already enjoys a mix of retail shops and eating outlets in the 0.2-ha site located under the MRT viaduct.


A more colourful and attractive city centre

Moving south, there are plans to make our city centre even more vibrant and distinctive.

With the opening of La-Salle-SIA College of the Arts, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore Management University and the National Library in three years’ time, 16,000 students will hang out at Bugis and Bras Basah areas and transform the place into a hotbed
of energy, culture and creativity.

More life and activity will also spill onto the streets with better-designed public spaces, people-friendly pedestrian links and interesting shop fronts.

Downtown at Marina Bay

Extending from the existing CBD, a 3.55-ha prime waterfront site fronting Marina Bay is planned for an integrated business and financial centre (BFC). It will be released to a single master developer to plan the optimal mix of uses within the development.

The Downtown at Marina Bay will be a seamless extension of the existing CBD, with a mix of live, work and play activities injected to give it an around-the-clock hum. People will not have to wait long for the whole area to come to life as vacant sites near the waterfront may be put to entertainment, recreational and cultural uses in the interim. In future, it will be possible to walk around the whole Marina Bay and visit these attractions along a 3.35-km continuous waterfront promenade and a new bridge.

Which issue of skyline magazine did that report appear?

Jan-Feb 2004. The latest one:cool:

No wonder I have never seen that report before. Kinda tardy? :D

Well it sounds nice but I wish it was more specific:cheers:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Well it sounds nice but I wish it was more specific:cheers: I have never heard of a "specific" concept plan thou. :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

I have never heard of a "specific" concept plan thou. :D u also cannot tell the diff between concept and master plans? :bash: :D

Originally posted by kenmin

u also cannot tell the diff between concept and master plans? :bash: :D If I dont, I wont have said the above wat...:D

Originally posted by huaiwei

If I dont, I wont have said the above wat...:D but RafflesCity is toking about master plan. :bash: :D

Anyone knows what would the huge vast land at Marina East be used for in the future?

Originally posted by redstone

Anyone knows what would the huge vast land at Marina East be used for in the future?

Allocated for future residental homes. New coastal expressway is expected to be built to replace the part of ECP on Marina East as well.

Actually, there is a planned extension of Kallang/Paya Lebar Expressway to be connected to new coastal expressway.

Originally posted by redstone

Anyone knows what would the huge vast land at Marina East be used for in the future? they r building a temp golf course there rite?

how about an ultra sleek and modern and sterile disneyland-scale themepark :D since disneyland wouldn't really fit in very well with the cbd..

Originally posted by kenmin

but RafflesCity is toking about master plan. :bash: :D Aye....how come I keep thinking Concept plan was out in 2003 ah?!?! :bash: :bash: :bash: :D Note that I mentioned "concept plan" so it was a genuine mistake!! Paiseh!! :colgate:

Originally posted by JediAlf

Allocated for future residental homes. New coastal expressway is expected to be built to replace the part of ECP on Marina East as well.

Actually, there is a planned extension of Kallang/Paya Lebar Expressway to be connected to new coastal expressway. Hmm...I prefered the plans in the previous concept plan, which have the area looking like Marina South!! ;)

What about the Marina South ,opposite the ECP?Now ,it is the Marina City Park ,and several vast fields.

Looks the the govt had thought of making provisions for expansions a long time ago!

It is undergoing replanning once again. Previously, it was a predominantly residential area.

I think Marina City Park will remain and serve as a nice big park for the new downtown, much like Hyde Park in London or Central Park in NY.

And the southernmost tip of Marina South will be the Maritime Cruise Centre.

Dont wory...Marina City Park is staying put!! :D

Another interesting development would be the Marina Padang.

Marina Padang?

What is that exactly and where is it located?

At the URA Gallery ,I saw a clip that shows the new CBD stretching all the way to the edge ,to the south coast of Marina South!

There's a model of twin towers linked by a circular structure at the top ,complete with a marina or pier at its base!:cool:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Marina Padang?

What is that exactly and where is it located? Its that huge field in Marina South where ppl love to fly kite in...;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Its that huge field in Marina South where ppl love to fly kite in...;)

No plans have been drawn up for that area yet I think. Its just outside the NDT.

Originally posted by redstone

At the URA Gallery ,I saw a clip that shows the new CBD stretching all the way to the edge ,to the south coast of Marina South!

There's a model of twin towers linked by a circular structure at the top ,complete with a marina or pier at its base!:cool:

Unfortunately that video clip is outdated. I dunno why they still show it.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

No plans have been drawn up for that area yet I think. Its just outside the NDT. But that particular site IS indeed meant to be kept permanently as an open field. ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

But that particular site IS indeed meant to be kept permanently as an open field. ;)

But you said, "Another interesting development would be the Marina Padang." so it gave the impression that it would be developed:cheers:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

But you said, "Another interesting development would be the Marina Padang." so it gave the impression that it would be developed:cheers: Haaha...yeah...coz its just an empty field now, but in future, it will have some amenities on both ends...something like the padang now. And since it wil be used for NDP, it would mean it might have semi-permanent grandstands too. ;)

Thats great. An alternative location should the National Stadium be demolished. Not to mention fantastic views of the skyline:cool:

Tg Pagar port could be next business district

25 March 2004

A global trend is inducing totally new uses for port land

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-03-25/040325bjport.gif

(SINGAPORE) PSA Corp's Tanjong Pagar terminals could well be the next central business district - or even a prime waterfront housing project - after the New Downtown is up and running. At today's value, the vast 80-hectare current port land is already valued at up to $2 billion.

The opening up of Tanjong Pagar Terminal (TPT), if it happens, would follow a worldwide trend where capital-city ports are freeing up expensive land with commercial and residential potential in favour of non-central locations. Such a move also eases congestion in city streets caused by vehicular traffic servicing the port.

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's (MPA) Policy Division director Mary Seet-Cheng indicated to The Business Times yesterday the terminals could be Singapore's next central real estate development, after the current Marina South - or New Downtown - priority project.

'(But) I feel the port there is pretty safe for the next 10 years - beyond, I won't be able to say.'

Asked about the future of TPT following a maritime academic's presentation that port facilities were shifting outside of their historical city havens, Mrs Seet-Cheng said: 'As you know we already have the Pasir Panjang Terminal (PPT) which is beyond the city limits.' She was referring to the existing six-berth port earmarked for development of as many as 50 additional ship berths, including five PSA has already begun building.

'The Tanjong Pagar ports are one of the most productive in PSA and as long as city planners feel that they don't need the land that is now occupied by TPT, we would see that it makes sense to continue to use those facilities because they are so productive.

'But the fact that we have plans for PPT phase 3 and 4 (involving reclamation) indicates that as we expand we wont be putting our infrastructure into the city, but moving further out. That's very logical, because we really want to maximise the use of our land and get the most value out of it,' she said.

TPT has six mainline berths, and its capacity could comfortably be accommodated within PPT's future expansion, although Mrs Seet-Cheng said current plans 'cater for (port) expansion rather than replacement'.

She added that TPT's fate would depend on demand, primarily the take-up of current city expansion space on the vacant reclaimed land around Marina South - a massive 372 hectare site earmarked by the Urban Redevelopment Authority for a range of long-term developments, including commercial and residential properties over the next 20 years.

BT understands PSA paid the market premium for its Singapore land leases when it corporatised in 1997.

Knight Frank executive director Tay Kah Poh told BT the TPT site had long been the subject of speculation in real estate circles.

'That TPT terminal is actually quite prime, it could conceivably be an extension of the current CBD. I would say either residential or commercial would do just as well for the Tanjong Pagar land.

'It's huge - it's prime waterfront land. The infrastructure is all there. I think it would be fairly easy to develop.'

He said both commercial and residential development 'would make a lot of sense there', considering the attractive location and government efforts to encourage city living.

But he added that the port would retain priority, and said the New Downtown development would be phased in over 30-40 years 'depending on the market', making another prime development unnecessary.

[size=4]...
But he added that the port would retain priority, and said the New Downtown development would be phased in over 30-40 years 'depending on the market', making another prime development unnecessary.
must wait so long?! think CCL6 will only b built when TPT is developed... must wait so long for the complete circle?! :ohno:

what stations are they gonna build there in future?

I think the initial plan was to build at KTM railway station, Tanjong Pagar, Prince Edward, Marina Bay, and 2 stations near the 2 ends of Marina City Park. Think this has been KIV until NDT is much more developed.

However, they might reroute the line and ply inside TPT instead if they r really going to develop the area... that will mean longer wait for CCL6

NDT still has a little bit more to reclaim right? To join it up with TPT.

yar lor. dunno must wait for how long... :(

URA releases industrial land site for first half of 2004


12 May 2004

The Urban Redevelopment Authority is releasing the first industrial land site for sale for the first half of this year.

The site, located between Alexandra Road and Leng Kee Road, is nestled among a row of car showrooms that include Cycle & Carriage, Mitsubishi, SM Motors and Komoco.

It is zoned for uses such as clean industry, light industry and warehouse.

It has an area of about 54,000 square feet and will be sold on a 30-year lease, unlike the usual 60-year lease for other industrial sale sites.

The URA says this is to provide a wider range of tenures to cater to different user needs.

Shorter tenures would also lower upfront business costs and increase flexibility for industrialists. - CNA

These are the models I've took at URA(7/6/04)....Now the section is closed for renovation. I hope that they came up with something better.......:)

Can see some models are removed.....nonetheless can still see some "new" building from the existing models
http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/City%20Landscapes/DSCN10761.jpg

Staff cleaning a removed model
http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/City%20Landscapes/DSCN10561.jpg

A closer look at the CBD area
http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/City%20Landscapes/DSCN10501.jpg

The Port would be demolished for commercial and residential uses?

Cute picture, stan! :D I suppose we are lucky to grap the last photos of it before it totally closed down!

^
Yah lor....the other day we went, it's close already(for renovation)....so disapointing.....I hope this can satisfy some thirst first loh......:yes:

it's closing for renovation again? what new buildings?

^
building that might be built in the future actually........ :)

Euro-Asia isn't white!

ah but it would bemuch better if it were!

The colours on some buildings are completely wrong.

ah but it would bemuch better if it were!
Muahahaha....they might put it right this time. :D

wah..the Pinnacle@Duxton will create a walled effect around Chinatown!
http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/City%20Landscapes/DSCN10761.jpg

The Port would be demolished for commercial and residential uses?

yah in many decades after the completion of the new downtown..but who knows?

Hmm, Canary Wharf of the East?:D

Well, devt by the Bay would take say 20 years to be filled up, but there is also a HUGE land mass called Marina South that is now only a vast field, some forests and a golf driving range with some small buildings.Don't forget this.This may take say 30-40 years?

Man, is it going to be a long wait!:D

AUG 17, 2004
Ex-NY mayor lauds S'pore's 'physical beauty'

SINGAPORE'S physical beauty, high-rise buildings and cleanliness are a fine example of its efficient leadership, said former New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

In a speech to the Global Brand Forum yesterday, he praised Singapore's 'magnificent' physical condition. 'It reminds me of New York City after I became mayor,' he said to laughs from the audience.

On a more serious note, he said: 'It is a credit to the people of Singapore and a great example of what people can do.'

Mr Giuliani is famed for making New York, known as the 'crime capital of America' when he was elected mayor in 1993, more liveable by reducing crime by more than half.

He pursued a zero tolerance policy in which even petty criminals like graffiti painters and subway fare evaders were pursued and prosecuted. It was based on the premise that indifference to small crimes encourages larger ones.

At a press conference yesterday, he noted the importance of a city's physical condition: 'It says to me something about self-respect... The physical condition of Singapore is magnificent. The large buildings, lots of traffic and people. It has to indicate effective leadership, that there's an overriding viewpoint and things they want to accomplish.'

He also praised Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, whom he met on Sunday, as 'very impressive'.

Asked if he had any advice to offer Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, he said no. He said Mr Lee did not need any, given his long career in public service and family history.

'His challenge is continuing to build on the tremendous achievements of Singapore and in a region and a world in transition,' added Mr Giuliani. -- Grace Sung

Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Hmm, Canary Wharf of the East?:D


Oh please...........What happen to the uniquely singapore?? :lol:

Well, people learn from us.Look at Emirates, Dubai and many countries in the world learn from our towns.

Must learn from each other. :D

Well, people learn from us.Look at Emirates, Dubai and many countries in the world learn from our towns.

Must learn from each other. :D

Must learn from each other yet keep our edge.....:yes:

More state land to be opened up for recreation

15 Sep 2004

Over next two years, another 100 plots will be added to the 153 that are already available to the public for playing games

By Arti Mulchand

THE Singapore Land Authority has plans to open up even more state land for community and recreational use.

SLA deputy chief executive Victor Hoong told The Straits Times that about 100 more vacant plots will made public over the next two years.

This is in addition to the 153 plots - 251ha of space - opened up between September last year and June, where No Trespassing signs have been replaced by those saying: Enter At Your Own Risk.

The Housing Board manages 98 plots; the SLA, 55. They can be used for football, cricket and other games, but not for commercial or competitive sports events.

SLA reiterated the initiative yesterday, after reports of housing estates wrapping barbed wire around beams and putting nails on the walls near ceilings to deter soccer playing in void decks rekindled the debate on the lack of recreational space.

The change was initiated by Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, who noticed people playing games on state land with No Trespassing signs.

By e-mail, Prof Ho said: 'We were making rules-breakers of people who just wanted to play ball games, throw a frisbee or fly a kite.

'I thought the Government should find a way to let people have fun without breaking our rules.'

The new signs read Enter At Your Own Risk to protect the state from legal liability if anyone gets hurt.

There are approved plots around the island, including one next to the Parkview Square office building in Beach Road.

SLA's Mr Hoong said it was looking at sites not immediately required for development, which are turfed, accessible and already being used.

In Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, where the town council had followed Tampines Town Council's example and put spikes on the walls of 27 blocks, the news prompted MP Charles Chong to get councillors to scour the neighbourhood for potential sites yesterday.

He added: 'If kids take to the fields, there may be no reason for spikes to stay on.'

The change in official thinking means that a site next to the Pasir Ris MRT station is also open for use.

On and off for five years, grassroots leaders badgered the HDB for permission and they finally got a 'yes' in July, on condition that they erect a fence to keep balls from going astray.

The Pasir Ris-Elias Community Club's management committee is trying to raise the $90,000 for the fence, so 'kids have space to have good, clean fun'.

Sporting culture wins too, say professionals in sports.

Tampines Rovers director of operations R. Vengadasalam hopes 'missing' field games such as rounders and baseball will make a comeback.

Football Association of Singapore technical director P. N. Sivaji sees it as a chance to develop young talent.

He said: 'When I was young there was so much open space.

'These days, interest in sport has nosedived because young people can't even kick a ball around. Creating the space could rekindle the interest.'

Time is GMT + 8 hours
Posted: 15 September 2004 1930 hrs

Singapore Land Authority appoints Colliers to manage state land
By Chan Hwa Loon, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The Singapore Land Authority has appointed property agent Colliers International Asset Management to manage 24 plots of state land.

The land plots range from the massive 3.3 million-square-foot Marina Bayfront to the 26,000-square-foot Somerset Road site behind the Mandarin Hotel.

Colliers beat 12 other bidders with its bid of a S$5,000 monthly managing fee and three percent incentive-based fee.

The contract runs for three years, with an option to renew for another three years.

But seven choice sites, including the Marina Bayfront and Somerset Road site, may be taken back by the Singapore Land Authority after the end of this year.

Colliers says it has big plans to spruce and liven up the plots of land and is flooded with ideas for them.

It says it intends to use the sites for arts, entertainment, culture and learning-related, sports and recreation purposes. - CNA

Copyright © 2004 MCN International Pte Ltd

TODAY EXCLUSIVE

Two more dams in the pipeline

PUB studies Punggol and Serangoon rivers

Weekend • October 2, 2004

Jose Raymond
jose@newstoday.com.sg

BARELY four months after the Public Utilities Board (PUB) revealed massive plans to turn the Marina basin into Singapore's 15th reservoir, yet another project to ensure Singapore moves towards water self-sufficiency has been undertaken.

Today has learnt that the PUB has already begun an in-depth study into the damming up of two rivers — Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon — that lie in the north-eastern part of Singapore.

The damming of both the rivers (see map) will help the PUB tap on the north-east water supply and be part of Singapore's aim of ensuring its long-term water supply. The project is due to be completed by 2009 and over the last few months, PUB engineers have been making various study trips to assess its viability.

Environmentalists who have been in talks with the PUB revealed that plans are also underway to dam up three other rivers — Sungei Khatib Bongsu, Sungei Simpang Kiri and the Sungei Seletar.

In response to queries, a PUB spokesman said: "The Seletar-Serangoon Reservoir Scheme involves the development of reservoirs downstream of the existing Lower Seletar Reservoir to tap run-offs from the north-eastern coast of Singapore as a source of water supply.

"Various studies are in progress and are expected to be completed in 2005. Under the scheme, Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon are expected to be converted to reservoirs by 2009."

She said that the cost of the project could only be ascertained once the studies are complete in 2005.

Once the two rivers are dammed, they are expected to be connected to the Lower Seletar Reservoir.

Mr Eric Low, the chief executive officer of the Marina Country Club and Resorts — the former Punggol Marina — dismissed suggestions that the area will become dead once the two rivers are dammed up.

Currently, sea sport enthusiasts can be seen skiing and wakeboarding in the rivers.

Said Mr Low: "I think it is good because after the area is dammed up, the PUB will ensure they are always clean and pristine.

The announcement by PUB over the Seletar-Serangoon Reservoir scheme comes months after the PUB announced a tender to turn the Marina Basin into a reservoir.

The Marina reservoir boasts of an advanced membrane technology that will make the water that flows into it as pristine as that from protected reservoirs like MacRitchie. That technology is expected to be used again in the damming of the two north-eastern rivers.

The Marina Reservoir and the Seletar-Serangoon Reservoir scheme will be ready for use by 2009, after the water has settled, some two years before Singapore's first water contract with Malaysia expires.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

More dams planned to catch water from HDB towns

6 Oct 2004

By Alexis Hooi

http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-10-06/h2.jpg
Almost like a secret fishing village, hidden in the mangrove of Sungei Serangoon. This river is the kampung getaway for residents in Sengkang and Punggol. Studies are being done on how it may be dammed up to form a reservoir in five years' time, the PUB said in its annual report released recently.


THE Public Utilities Board (PUB) is now looking to tap into run-off water from more urban areas - by damming up Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon in the north-east in five years' time.

Studies are being done on how the reservoirs, which will be downstream of the Lower Seletar Reservoir, can be created, the PUB said in its annual report for this year released recently.

The two reservoirs will capture water from HDB towns and other built-up areas.

But it is not clear whether the PUB will treat the water with the Newater technology that will be used in the Marina Bay reservoir.

Tenders will close next week for building the Marina Barrage, a dam across the Marina Channel which will create a mini-reservoir in the downtown area in three years' time.

The PUB had said that it would have to use the Newater purification method because the normal treatment method for natural reservoir water is not good enough.

Water run off from urban areas contains chemicals and leaked sewage not found in natural reservoirs.

Meanwhile, the consultant for PUB on the Marina Barrage, Dr Brendan Harley, assured yesterday that the membrane technology will be able to clean the run-off from the urban areas.

A consultant to Singapore on flood and stormwater management for the past 20 years, who is here for a conference on water management, Dr Harley said the barrage will almost certainly eliminate the threat of flooding in the city especially during the November-to-March north-east monsoon.

In March, high tides that coincided with heavy rainfall caused damage to businesses and households in the east.

Other low-lying areas like Chinatown, Geylang, Tanjong Katong, Joo Chiat, Rochor and Hougang are also especially susceptible to the waters.

Said Dr Harley, 58: 'With the Marina Barrage, I think the probability of any more floods in the downtown area is very, very small... almost zero.'

He added that Singapore has been uniquely successful in developing its waterways for both flood control as well as diverting them into a water resource.

'There're very few places that actually deliberately set off capturing good quality urban run-off.'

However, Dr Harley did caution that one problem Singapore would need to address is the soil erosion that could result in silt building up in the reservoirs - most often seen in the murky, turbid brown colours that canals seem to be filled with - a lot of which comes from construction sites.

'The barrage catchment is a much older urban area, there are leaky sewers, a lot of small businesses which throw a lot of waste into the drains,' he said.

'We have to educate the people to stop doing that.'

Business Times - 04 Dec 2004

Designing a S'pore with the X-factor

ADOPTING newer and bolder development concepts, promoting good design and relaxing building rules will help give Singapore the 'X-factor' and allow it to stand out in the global competition among cities to attract top talent and businesses, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

On the future role of urban planning and design, he said: 'We have to find ways to unleash the creativity and energy of our people. Sometimes this could take place at the expense of efficiency, and like all bold measures, it will involve some risks.

'But it's the only way to catch the attention of the world, and to stand a chance of acquiring that 'X-factor',' Mr Lee said at the official opening of the 'Shaping Singapore' exhibition and the newly refurbished Singapore City Gallery at the URA Centre.

The exhibition showcases the Urban Redevelopment Authority's efforts over the past 30 years and gives a glimpse of its aspirations for shaping Singapore's development in the next 30 years.

In his speech, Mr Lee stressed the need for bolder development concepts. 'Let us not be afraid to be ambitious. Let's do more to tap the creativity of the private sector,' he said.

He cited as an example the New Downtown financial district where the government is trying out a new method of development. 'We are releasing substantially bigger plots of land to give private developers the scope and flexibility to plan and integrate amenities, exercise their creativity and explore even more outstanding and eye-catching designs,' he said.

On the need to constantly review building rules, Mr Lee said: 'By imposing fewer rules and constraints, we give building owners, architects and designers more space to express their ideas . . . Building control regulations have also moved from a 'one size fits all' prescriptive approach to a performance-based one. Designers can now come up with alternative designs as long as they satisfy certain performance outcomes.'

He revealed that URA will contribute $3 million to kick-start a programme to co-sponsor architecture and urban design promotion activities with the private sector. And to recognise good practices in the design industry, URA in conjunction with other government agencies is considering introducing a new top-level design award.

Finally, Mr Lee cautioned that Singapore should not go for 'ostentation or false grandeur'.

'Being bold and willing to experiment does not equate to opulence or extravagance . . . We do not need to build monuments to ourselves, to glorify our achievements or to overawe subject peoples. Anyway, we have none.'

The URA's chief executive, Cheong Koon Hean, said: 'What we want to encourage is not just designers but also developers and consumers to better appreciate design because once the consumers appreciate the design, then the architects and developers will all shoot for this quality.'

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Learn from Dubai...

Learn from Dubai...

And Vice versa......;)

I could have missed it. Has the Concept Plan 2010 been published?

Not yet. It's the 2011 Concept Plan, not 2010. more info here: http://spring.ura.gov.sg/conceptplan2011/index.cfm

The Concept Plan 2001 launched a lot a key initiatives like Tuas extension, long island off marine parade, extensino of Tekong, Changi east, etc.

Anything major reclamation we can look forward to in the Concept Plan 2011?

The Concept Plan 2001 launched a lot a key initiatives like Tuas extension, long island off marine parade, extensino of Tekong, Changi east, etc.

Anything major reclamation we can look forward to in the Concept Plan 2011?
The same things, really. The only major reclamation projects that have been turned into reality are Tuas Extension, Jurong Island and Tekong. Changi East hasn't started... I expect URA to continue those projects although I'm unsure whether long island will ever become reality.

Anyways, on my wishlist, I'd like to see reclamation in the southern islands, as well as the partial demilitarization of Tekong and the western region's live-firing area. IMHO, the opening up of the latter has lotsa potential, especially since it's right across from the IDR. The former is to get ready for an eventual road/rail link to Batam.

My wish list for Concept Plan 2011:
- Marine Parade long island.
- Enlargement of Marine South southward.
- Enlargement of the southern islands.
- Further reclamation at Changi East beyond runway 3.
- Master-planning and reconfiuraton of the land to be vacated by Finger Pier, Tg Pagar and Keppel Terminals.

Please add-on and comment.

Cheers!

My wish list for Concept Plan 2011:
- Marine Parade long island.
- Enlargement of Marine South southward.
- Enlargement of the southern islands.
- Further reclamation at Changi East beyond runway 3.
- Master-planning and reconfiuraton of the land to be vacated by Finger Pier, Tg Pagar and Keppel Terminals.

Please add-on and comment.

Cheers!

Err, reclamation may be a problem for now as sand is in short supply. When I mean sand, I am talking about the type that is used for reclaiming not the construction ones. For Marina South, I doubt they would want to further reclaim it.

My wish list for Concept Plan 2011:
- Marine Parade long island.
- Enlargement of Marine South southward.
- Enlargement of the southern islands.
- Further reclamation at Changi East beyond runway 3.
- Master-planning and reconfiuraton of the land to be vacated by Finger Pier, Tg Pagar and Keppel Terminals.

Please add-on and comment.

Cheers!

Enlargement of Marina South will be an interesting idea, perhaps creation of a marina that ajoins the Cruise terminal. Another possibility is to add a lagoon surrounded by super luxurious condo. All these can ride on the Marina Sands effect........borrow some ideas from Dubai?

Resort World is complemented by Sentosa Cove.
Marina Sands will then be complemented by Marina South Extension? Wow! I can almost visualise a Monte-Carlo of Singapore in the making within the Marina South precinct itself.

For Concept Plan 2011 I would like to see more innovation in terms of land use planning and allocation. For example:
1. More mixed use developments in Housing Estates. Eg. Jurong Pt type of developments in Woodlands, Jurong East, etc.
2. New transport routes and models. Eg. converting the KTM line to a semi-underground express rail service; BRT, waterways transport (Alexandra-River Valley-CBD route, Bishan-Serangoon-Kallang route)
3. Intensification and introduction of mixed-SOHO uses in old industrial estates. Eg. Toa Payoh, Kallang Bahru, Redhill-Henderson.
4. Develop Land Use strategies that encourage cross-border businesses. Eg. Woodlands-IDR business zone.
5. Development of first Eco-Housing Estate in Singapore. Eg. Zero-Emissions Housing, 100% Green Plot Ratio Replacement, Zero-Emission Transport.
6. Constructive Heritage Conservation Plans. Eg, Railway bridges to parks (ala New York High-Line); Urban Design interventions at rustic centres (Serangoon Gardens, Greenwood Ave, Siglap Village, etc.

For Concept Plan 2011 I would like to see more innovation in terms of land use planning and allocation. For example:
1. More mixed use developments in Housing Estates. Eg. Jurong Pt type of developments in Woodlands, Jurong East, etc.
2. New transport routes and models. Eg. converting the KTM line to a semi-underground express rail service; BRT, waterways transport (Alexandra-River Valley-CBD route, Bishan-Serangoon-Kallang route)
3. Intensification and introduction of mixed-SOHO uses in old industrial estates. Eg. Toa Payoh, Kallang Bahru, Redhill-Henderson.
4. Develop Land Use strategies that encourage cross-border businesses. Eg. Woodlands-IDR business zone.
5. Development of first Eco-Housing Estate in Singapore. Eg. Zero-Emissions Housing, 100% Green Plot Ratio Replacement, Zero-Emission Transport.
6. Constructive Heritage Conservation Plans. Eg, Railway bridges to parks (ala New York High-Line); Urban Design interventions at rustic centres (Serangoon Gardens, Greenwood Ave, Siglap Village, etc.

The '100% Green Plot Ratio Replacement' seems interesting. Could you elaborate how this works?

Talking about railway bridge, the ktm bridge crossing bt timah should probably be considered for preservation, can make it for pedestrian corssing like park connector of some sorts.

To add on to the wish list:
- Energy demand indicator linked to bonus plot ratio. Eg, if the Energy demand/sqm falls below a certain benchmark, then a 10% increase in plot ratio may be granted free.
- The creation of an artificial island or the designation of one of the existing southern island for a comprehensive eco-city develoment that is self-sustaining, car free, environmental friendly.

http://www.petus.eu.com/left.php?sct=6&sbsct=2&pageid=43&pagesect=0&pagelang=en

"The Green Plot Ratio is a planning instrument for ecological sustainability in cities.

The GPR is based on a common biological parameter called the leaf area index (LAI), which is defined as the single-side leaf area per unit ground area... GPR can also be defined as the ratio of the total single-side leaf area of the planted landscape to the plot or site area."

LAI of a turfed area is usually assumed to be 1.0.

Simply put, the green plot ratio measures the leaf area, thus the photosynthesis & pollution-control capabilities, of a plot of land compared to turfing.

In 100% replacement of GPR, given the example of a plot of land currently covered by secondary foliage having a calculated GPR of 3.0. The developer will have to devise ways to introduce green, including trees, roof gardens, vertical green, to achieve the same GPR, and thus retaining the overall contribution of the piece of land to pollution, CO2 and heat reduction to its context.

When the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) is ready, will the present Sheares Bridge be demolished?

Any reason why the MCE has to cross the Singapore River mouth underground? Why not just a level bridge?

I think Benjamin Sheares Bridge will be converted to an arterial road. So while it will still stand, it will not be part of the ECP anymore.

The MCE is underground probably just to save space.