Building Sustainable Future Draft Master Plan 2025
Revised:
The concept of sustainable development is a key focus in the Draft Master Plan 2025. While plans for new neighbourhoods and lifestyle areas are in place, the government also intends to revamp brownfield sites in the Central regions into new housing estates. These areas include Bukit Timah Turf City, the former Keppel Club golf course, the Old Police Academy at Mount Pleasant, and the foothills of Pearl’s Hill City Park.
As part of creating a more inclusive community, the government is introducing a mix of public and private housing in these Central areas. Pearl’s Hill is expected to see the development of 6,000 new homes in the next decade, comprising both private and public housing. Similarly, Mount Pleasant will have 5,000 new public housing units in the future.
The new neighbourhoods in the Central regions are designated as car-lite and will also be designed as “10-minute neighbourhoods”. This means that key amenities, such as public transport, will be within a 10-minute walking distance for most residents. These new neighbourhoods include Bukit Timah Turf Club, Pearl’s Hill, and Marina South.
In addition to being a 10-minute neighbourhood, some of these new enclaves, like Marina South, will also be classified as “sustainable towns”. This means that all developments in these areas must obtain the highest BCA sustainability rating, the Green Mark Platinum Super Low Energy (SLE). Developers are also encouraged to use native plant species from the National Parks Board’s Landscape Master Plan to promote the movement of wildlife and provide shelter for pedestrians.
To enhance connectivity, the MRT network is being expanded. The fourth stage of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), Singapore’s seventh MRT line, opened in June, spanning seven stations over a 10.8km stretch on the East Coast. The fifth and final stage, expected to be completed in 2026, will add two more stations, Bedok South and Sungei Bedok, providing an interchange for both the TEL and the Downtown Line.
Works have also commenced for the Cross Island Line (CRL), Singapore’s eighth MRT line, aimed at linking major hubs such as Jurong Lake District, Punggol Digital District, and the Changi Region. The CRL will be completed in three phases, with the first phase expected to be completed by 2030. The Jurong Region Line (JRL) will also improve connectivity in the western region, with 24 stations and scheduled for completion between 2027 and 2029.
To promote active and healthy lifestyles, the Draft Master Plan 2025 includes a new Recreation Master Plan aimed at activating green and blue spaces for leisure and recreational activities. Green spaces refer to parks and forests, while blue spaces refer to lakes and rivers. These initiatives were first introduced in the 1991 Concept Plan and expanded in the 2008 Master Plan, leading to the creation of the island-wide park connector network and cycling paths.
Under this Recreation Master Plan, these recreational areas will be made more accessible, encouraging active and healthy living. Multi-functional spaces for sports, arts, and wellness will be developed to optimize the use of these areas. The Bishan-to-City (B2C) links, a project that aims to revitalize areas along the Kallang River, will also provide a 10km green commute along the Kallang Park Connector from Bishan to the city, contributing to a more sustainable, car-lite city.
The Draft Master Plan 2025 also includes plans to reimagine existing spaces. For instance, the “Long Island” will be a new 20-km coastline in the eastern region, reclaimed to protect Singapore’s eastern coastline. It will feature a new reservoir, with waterfront and water sports activities, and multi-functional spaces for homes, recreation, and nature. In the west, the Jurong Lake District is now a 90ha national garden, Singapore’s first in a suburban area, with developments such as the Singapore Science Centre scheduled for completion in 2027.
The Elta MCL Land has emerged as the top bidder for the Elta Condo Clementi Avenue 1 site, with a final bid of $633.45 million. This translates to a price of $1,250 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr) for the 99-year leasehold, which spans over 178,066 square feet. This winning bid was 4.03% higher than the second-highest bid of $608.89 million, equivalent to $1,202 psf ppr. Elta MCL Land has successfully secured the coveted site against fierce competition from five other bidders.
The Draft Master Plan also focuses on creating unique identities for different areas, preserving their heritage through conservation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings and structures. For example, Paya Lebar Airbase, which will be decommissioned in 2030, will be transformed into a new town with 150,000 homes. The area’s aviation history will be highlighted, with old buildings and structures repurposed for recreational and community use. The government has also sought public ideas for the development of other areas, such as Sembawang Shipyard and the Singapore Turf Club in Kranji.
Overall, the Draft Master Plan 2025 aims to create a sustainable, connected, and inclusive city, with a focus on promoting active and healthy lifestyles, preserving heritage and identity, and providing accessible green and blue spaces for recreational activities.