2014 | 2015 Annual Report Urban Redevelopment Authority As Singapore turnsAs Singapore 50, we continue to dream big in planning our city for today and tomorrow Shaping our city Urban Redevelopment Authority Annual Report 2014 | 2015 The URA Centre | 45 Maxwell Road | Singapore 069118 | 45 Maxwell Road | Singapore The URA Centre (65) 6221 6666 | Fax: (65) 6227 5069 | www.ura.gov.sg Tel: Cover illustration © URA Executive Architect Nicholas Li Contents Our Achievements board members of the year Our mission The Organisation URA SPIRIT structure 02 04 05 06 10 12 14 16 18 45 Who Advisory Financial we are committees report Chairman’s Corporate message governance Our mission To make Singapore a great city to live, work and play © Goh Hak Liang Who we are The The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is Singapore’s land use planning and conservation authority. Our mission is to make Singapore a great city to live, work and play. We strive to create a vibrant and sustainable city of URA distinction by planning and facilitating Singapore’s physical development in partnership with the community. INNOVATION The URA has successfully transformed Singapore into one of the most liveable cities in Asia through judicious land use planning and good urban design. We adopt a long-term and comprehensive planning approach in formulating strategic plans such as the Concept Plan and the Master Plan, to guide the physical development of Singapore in a sustainable manner. SSERVICE PPASSION INTEGRITYI Our plans and policies focus on sustainable economic growth and ensuring a quality living environment. As the conservation authority, URA also ensures that we protect our built heritage. Through working with communities and building owners, we have conserved close to 7,200 structures and buildings, as well as entire districts. To turn plans and visions into reality, URA takes on a multi-faceted role. In addition to our planning function, URA is the main government land sales agent. Through the sale of State land, we attract and channel private capital investment to develop sites to support economic and social development. RRESPECT INNOVATIONIINNOVATION TTEAMWORK As the place manager for Marina Bay, we promote exciting activities within Marina Bay in collaboration with other government agencies and private stakeholders. To create an exciting cityscape, URA actively promotes architecture and urban design excellence. URA has a strong culture of achieving work excellence. The URA SPIRIT, core values we believe in, guides Drawing on our experience in integrated planning and urban management, URA provides consultancy for overseas bilateral projects and shares our our daily interactions in the office and with our service urban planning experience through professional training programmes. partners, stakeholders and the general public. 5 04 05 06 Chairman’s message 07 FY2014 has been a significant year for us, the year of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s 40th anniversary. Far-sighted, holistic and integrated planning has played a crucial role in shaping Singapore’s distinctive skyline and beautiful landscapes that we all enjoy today. The first Concept Plan 1971, a long-range plan, laid the foundation for many key infrastructure and urban networks, and established fundamental planning principles that have guided us up till this day. Over 40 years, we have stayed focused on providing a good quality of life for all, supporting economic growth, maintaining a clean and green environment and making the best use of our limited resources. In FY2014, we saw good progress in the development of major precincts like the Jurong Lake District. We ramped up our research capabilities and deepened community partnerships, for sustainability and resiliency. Plans taking off In June 2014, we gazetted the Master Plan, one of the most important land use plans that are used to guide the development of Singapore’s physical landscape in the next 10 to 15 years. Gazetted following a year-long review and consultations with various stakeholders and members of the public, the Master Plan ensures that we have robust strategies in place to continue to provide for sustainable, well- connected and quality living environments. 7 06 07 © Vincent Chiang Many of our plans are now taking off. One PubliCity – a movement launched in 2013 to and outstanding community space. Feedback edition of the World Cities Summit to discuss example is the Jurong Lake District. Since the activate public spaces and encourage a greater from the community was distilled into planning urban challenges and solutions with mayors, unveiling of the blueprint in 2008 to transform appreciation of them – is gaining momentum. We and design goals that formed a key part of the city leaders, researchers, urban planners and Jurong into the largest regional centre outside worked closely with stakeholders to turn spaces in brief. The proposals submitted have shown great industry professionals from around the world. the Central Business District, the commercial the city like Kampong Glam and Waterloo Centre promise in offering seamless connectivity, a green In January 2015, we launched Urban Lab, a hub – Jurong Gateway – has been shaping up into delightful curated spaces filled with a variety corridor experience and a connection to heritage. dedicated new platform to showcase emerging well. Efforts to enhance the district as a smart, of fun garden swings, chairs and benches. People technologies and cutting-edge research work connected and sustainable precinct and to exploit responded to our call and came forward with Celebrating our heritage and ideas in creating a more sustainable, its existing greenery and waterbodies got a boost exciting ideas on how we could transform empty As we continue to develop and grow, retaining liveable Singapore. The two exhibitions so far – with the formation of a steering committee to public spaces and alleyways into interesting and sustaining our identity and heritage remains on Singapore-ETH Centre’s future cities research, drive initiatives in these areas. One priority is places. We also supported the global PARK(ing) a critical focus. URA’s Architectural Heritage and on the use of drones for a range of uses to revitalise Jurong Lake Park, the Chinese and Day annual event on 19 September 2014 for Awards (AHA) celebrated its 20th year of inspiring including urban planning – have generated Japanese Gardens, and the grounds of the new the first time, by galvanising people and groups, quality conservation and restoration. Recognising greater awareness and dialogue among key Science Centre, with a view to integrating them turning 88 parking lots across Singapore into 52 the importance of greater heritage appreciation, players and the larger community. into a valuable gem in the West. creative public spaces. we widened our outreach efforts, working We are working on exciting technological To add to the existing network of walkways, a with Nanyang Technological University student “Far-sighted, holistic and integrated advancements to improve the way we plan. pedestrian mall named J Link was completed filmmakers to produce short documentaries on planning has played a crucial role in An exciting project is a partnership with Esri in November 2014 to enable residents to walk AHA winners. We also organised Cakap heritage shaping Singapore’s distinctive skyline Inc to develop an advanced urban planning easily from Jurong East MRT station to the Science sessions, in collaboration with the Singapore and beautiful landscapes that three-dimensional (3D) tool – Esri City Engine Centre and immediate neighbourhoods. The Heritage Society, inviting the community to share we all enjoy” – to help us to plan more with large-scale 3D link is the result of close collaboration with the wonderful stories about Bras Basah, Kampong simulations. In addition, a new White Room has community and other public agencies. It is also a Glam and Tiong Bahru. In moving towards less reliance on cars, and been created to offer an immersive visualisation unique community space that shares the history instead pushing for active mobility for a more Entering Singapore’s 50th year and Golden of three-dimension urban models. It now serves of Jurong. Giving a new impetus to the plans for sustainable Singapore, we have been working Jubilee, we embarked on plans to enhance our as a creative flexible space for URA planners and this prime district will be the future Singapore- with stakeholders and the community on several historic Civic District. Works have started to link architects, and the industry, to conduct planning Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail terminus that will fronts. In partnership with the Land Transport up landmarks around the Padang like Victoria discussions and design workshops. be located in Jurong East. Authority, plans for Ang Mo Kio as the first model Theatre and Concert Hall and the National With the many strides made in key areas in Our plans to develop other regional centres to walking and cycling town were unveiled for Gallery, to strengthen the district as a walkable FY2014, we look forward to continuing to shape bring jobs closer to homes are progressing well, residents’ feedback. Following the consultation, a arts and cultural precinct. We also opened the Singapore into a great city to live, work and play. with the successful sale of the first commercial network of dedicated walking and cycling paths, Jubilee Bridge, brainchild of our founding Prime I thank all our partners and stakeholders, and land parcel for Woodlands Regional Centre and pedestrian priority zones at bus stops, bicycle Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who had suggested an most of all, Singaporeans from all walks of life, a second one for Paya Lebar Central. crossings at road junctions, and bicycle parking additional, more pedestrian-friendly connection for their active and invaluable support to the team facilities will be developed. We also worked between Merlion Park and Esplanade – Theatres at URA to help to turn our plans into reality. Deepening partnerships closely with business associations to pilot more on the Bay during a visit to Marina Bay.