Jalan Besar Town Council launches five-year masterplan for greener, more elderly-friendly town

SINGAPORE – Residents living in Jalan Besar GRC can look forward to their estates becoming greener and more energy-efficient in the next five years, with more smart LED lighting and trees to be planted.

Sustainability will be a key pillar in the town council’s masterplan from 2026 to 2030, said Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo at the plan’s launch on April 6.

Jalan Besar is the coordinating town council for Action for Green Towns across the 15 PAP town councils and will lead the way in emphasising sustainability in support of

the Singapore Green Plan 2030

, said the town council.

More shared spaces will also be created in the coming years for all generations to enjoy together, such as improved neighbourhood parks, playgrounds for children, fitness corners for adults and seniors, and friendly streets.

Many of these enhanced amenities will be in both public and private estates, to ensure that many residents in its precincts can enjoy them, the town council added.

The masterplan launch event on April 6 offered a preview of more than 100 proposed projects and facilities for the next five years. The aim is to also make Jalan Besar a more inclusive community for its residents.

The group representation constituency, one of the oldest in Singapore, will be upgraded to include way-finding features such as motifs and colour-coded zones to help residents, especially those with dementia, navigate the neighbourhoods.

There will also be many community gardens designed with inclusivity in mind, such as having higher planter boxes. For residents with mobility needs, there will be wheelchair-friendly paths and greater barrier-free accessibility, such as ramps and additional aids. 

The masterplan also emphasises fostering strong bonds between older and younger residents in the town, which is a blend of the past and present. While it has some of Singapore’s oldest Housing Board flats, a number of new Build-To-Order estates have sprung up in the last few years.

Jalan Besar Town Council said that in developing its masterplan, it had embarked on a months-long engagement effort to gather insights from government agencies and more than 3,000 residents through street interviews.

Announcing the plan on April 6, Mrs Teo, who helms the PAP team in Jalan Besar GRC, said it is more than just the town council’s project as it also belongs to the residents.

Speaking at the launch, Mrs Teo, who is also Minister-in-charge of Smart Nation and Cybersecurity, said residents took the time and effort to share their vision for the town, “and we listened”.

The town council also showcased the developments and improvements in the district over the last five years.

Since 2021, the town council has added and upgraded many facilities across Jalan Besar GRC that have benefited more than 53,000 households.

These include 62 new and upgraded lifts benefiting more than 4,500 residential homes, four upgraded markets and hawker centres, and 439 blocks equipped with solar panels.

Notable projects by other government agencies included six MRT stations on the Thomson-East Coast and Circle lines, and the Kallang Bahru Underpass.

The upgraded Golden Mile and Beo Crescent markets and hawker centres also provide cleaner, more conducive environments for both customers and hawker stallholders, said the town council.

An additional 78 blocks were upgraded under the Home Improvement Programme, which has benefited more than 8,200 homes.