URA Draft Master Plan 2013: Property consultants give their take

The proposed transformation of popular hangout Holland Village (above) and the development of a new eco-friendly district in Marina South are the stand-out changes in a new blueprint for Singapore's development. -- ST FILE PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
The proposed transformation of popular hangout Holland Village (above) and the development of a new eco-friendly district in Marina South are the stand-out changes in a new blueprint for Singapore's development. -- ST FILE PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

The proposed transformation of popular hangout Holland Village and the development of a new eco-friendly district in Marina South are the stand-out changes in a new blueprint for Singapore's development.

Property consultants zoomed in on these concrete plans in the Draft Master Plan 2013, which was released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) early this morning.

SLP International executive director Nicholas Mak said of the overall master plan: "These are very exciting plans but they are for the long-term and we may not see some of the sites being developed even in the next five years."

Mr Mak said that the plans to build more high-rise homes as well as a mixed development at popular haunt Holland Village were interesting, as were the proposals for Marina South, which will see more high-density developments.

Chief executive of Century 21 Singapore Ku Swee Yong noted that the master plan proposals continue the trends of decentralising jobs across Singapore and developing the Central Business District.

In addition, the plan focuses on conservation and community spaces as well as the issue of identity, he added.

Three areas - Holland Village, Jalan Kayu and the Serangoon Garden circus - will be designated identity nodes by the URA. Identity nodes are places in Singapore with distinctive characters and efforts will be made to preserve some of their unique traits.

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