Ravi Chandran
The Central Region will have vibrant city living, rich with heritage, close to nature, Draft Masterplan 2019 promises
By: Hitesh Khan/
Draft Masterplan 2019 promises that its plans for the Central Region will incorporate features cherished by the community.
Dakota Crescent
Dakota Crescent will be revitalised with the injection of new public housing. The much loved central courtyard, Dove Playground and six distinctive blocks of former Singapore Improvement Trust flats will be retained as landmarks for the precinct. Future residents can look forward to an inclusive estate with convenient amenities and vibrant community spaces amidst the heritage buildings.
Holland Plain
Holland Plain will be a distinctive and welcoming neighbourhood, featuring generous park spaces for residents to enjoy. There will also be water-sensitive elements to clean and manage rainwater run-off. With the newly enhanced Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal and Rail Corridor at its doorstep, native species can be introduced into the new parks to extend these nearby habitats and enrich biodiversity in the area.
Community Workshops on Holland Plain
Residents’ suggestions include creating more inviting entrances to the new community plain and to revise heights of the new buildings to be more sensitive to existing neighbourhoods were incorporated into the plans.
Farrer Park
New housing at Farrer Park will open up more opportunities for those seeking to live closer to the city and their families staying in the area. Familiar landmarks, such as the Farrer Park Swimming Complex and the former boxing gym will be retained to preserve the sporting heritage of the area and inspire future generations of sportsmen. A sports field and park will also be integrated for community bonding.
Community Design Workshops on Farrer Park
Sports and heritage groups as well as residents were engaged in community design workshops to share their ideas. Most felt that sports facilities, such as the swimming pool and former boxing gym, should be incorporated as part of the future precinct.
Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital Expansion
The expansion to the historic Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital (KWSH) was completed in 2017. The new 12-storey nursing home facility is co-located with a senior care centre which offers services such as dementia day care and rehabilitation. The 4 conserved old hospital blocks also feature a refurbished TCM Centre, Heritage Gallery and training facilities.
New Kallang Polyclinic
The new Kallang Polyclinic building, adjacent to the KWSH, will be completed in 2020 to better meet the healthcare needs of the residents.
Bukit Timah Community Building
Bukit Timah will have a new one-stop integrated facility with a Community Club, redeveloped market & hawker centre at the doorstep of Beauty World MRT station. It will also feature a range of new amenities such as an indoor sports hall, community library and elderly facility to enhance liveability.
Paya Lebar Central
Centrally located near the city, Paya Lebar Central is also in close proximity to the culturally rich Geylang Serai precinct. Developments such as Wisma Geylang Serai and Paya Lebar Quarter will add to the area’s rich array of lifestyle and entertainment offerings.
Owners of key buildings within the precinct are on board the pilot Business Improvement District programme to develop initiatives that will further enliven the precinct, and complement plans to make Geylang Serai more culturally distinctive.
Bishan Sub-Regional Centre
Bishan Sub-Regional Centre will be transformed into an attractive and easily accessible employment node. Community facilities will be integrated within upcoming commercial developments to better serve nearby residents, workers and the general public.
Dover Knowledge District
As an extension of one-north, the Dover Knowledge District can realise synergies between the nearby business parks, academic and research institutions. It will offer vibrant integrated spaces to create exciting new jobs and learning opportunities, and support Singapore’s long-term economic growth.
East Coast Park Improvement Works
Visitors to one of Singapore’s most well-loved can enjoy the recently reopened Raintree Cove and look forward to upgraded open spaces and amenities at Big Splash and Cyclist Park, Draft Masterplan 2019 promises. Fun-seekers will get to enjoy new F&B outlets, a vertical playground with a lookout tower, and an expansive multi-purpose lawn.
Singapore Botanical Gardens – Gallop Extension
Our first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the iconic Singapore Botanic Gardens will feature new attractions for all ages to enjoy with the opening of its Gallop Extension later this year. 5 Gallop Road, Singapore’s earliest surviving black-and-white bungalow, will house the new Forest Discovery Centre. Other attractions include an arboretum of dipteropcarp forest trees, a restored ridge top habitat offering vantage points and an adventure hiking trail, as well as a biophilic play area inspired by the distractive parks of trees found within the grounds.
Bukit Timah-Rochor Green Walk
The Bukit Timah-Rochor green walk is envisioned as a journey through a riverine forest and will include an elevated park. The 11km corridor stretches from the Rail Corridor to the Kallang Riverside Park, and forms part of the Coast-to-Coast Trail and Nature Park Network. Visitors can look forward to a unique walking and cycling experience set amidst lush greenery.
Draft Masterplan 2019 promises that with enhanced mobility, travel time will be reduced in the Central Region
The much-anticipated stage 6 of the Circle Line opening by 2025 will plug the missing gap between Marina Bay and Harbourfront, completing the Circle Line Loop. The new Thomson-East Coast Line and Cross Island Line (Phase 1) will also improve accessibility to the region.
Pasir Panjang Linear Park
The upcoming Pasir Panjang Linear Park is a key recreational corridor linking West Coast Park to Labrador Park Nature Reserve. The linear park is made possible in part by a contribution from PSA Singapore, and will bring park users up close to Pasir Panjang Terminal, offering a glimpse of the workings of Singapore’s world-class container port.
