SINGAPORE - The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Monday (July 11) launched a Request for Proposal, inviting multi-disciplinary teams to develop masterplan proposals for the Jurong Lake District.
It is the first step in what is regarded as the district's transformation into "A District of the Future" and Singapore's second Central Business District (CBD), URA said.
First unveiled in the URA masterplan 2008 as part of its decentralisation efforts, the district comprises a commercial hub, Jurong Gateway, and a leisure precinct called Lakeside.
A key focus of the upcoming masterplanning exercise will be the development of proposals for Lakeside Gateway, a new mixed-used business precinct and home to the future Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) terminus.
The 112ha site, which is located between Jurong Gateway and Lakeside, has a potential gross floor area of between 4 million sq m and 5 million sq m, according to URA.
Possible developments in the precinct include offices, business facilities, retail, entertainment, food and beverage, waterfront homes, hotels, recreational facilities and public spaces.
Said Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong, who is also chairman of the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee: "As a CBD in our heartlands, the District will drive Singapore's growth in the future economy, and cater to the diverse needs of businesses, residents, visitors, and Singaporeans from all walks of life."
He added that the district will be distinguished by its high connectivity and smart and green mobility options, and will be a hub for smart innovations as well as a home to sustainable urban infrastructure.
Besides Lakeside Gateway, participating teams will also develop proposals for the following components of the Jurong Lake District masterplan:
- Strategies to shape a distinctive identity for Jurong Lake District;
- Possible revisions to land uses of surrounding areas that will strengthen the position of Jurong Lake District as Singapore's second CBD;
- Car-lite and connectivity plans for Jurong Lake District and its surroundings;
- Urban design guidelines, landscaping and public space strategies, and plans to create, improve, and integrate green and blue spaces;
- Plans for the possible adaptive reuse of the former Jurong Town Hall and current Science Centre buildings;
- Plans for possible district-level infrastructure, utilities and urban systems;
- An underground space plan;
- Environmental sustainability strategies
The proposal process outlined by URA is as follows.
Stage 1 - Pre-qualification
This will take eight weeks - from July to September. Interested teams are required to submit information on their team composition and organisation, track record, as well as a Statement of Planning and Design Intent and Approach.
The statement should include an analysis of key challenges involved in the masterplanning of Jurong Lake District, and highlight the approach towards achieving the vision and goals for the district as a "A District of the Future" and Singapore's second CBD.
Submissions need to be made to URA by Sept 5. Five teams will be shortlisted for Stage 2.
Stage 2 - Developing the Concept masterplan
The shortlisted teams will take part in a 10-week exercise - from September to December - to develop their Concept masterplans.
Submissions are due by Dec 7 and the appointed team will be notified in January next year.
Stage 3 - Develop the Draft masterplan, public exhibition
The appointed team will work with URA and partner agencies to draw up a detailed Jurong Lake District Draft masterplan. A public exhibition of the plan will be held around the third quarter of 2017, with the public invited to give their feedback.
The team will then refine the plan, taking into account feedback from the public, stakeholders, partner agencies, and the Jurong Lake District Steering Committee.
