SUBURBAN OFFICE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The decentralisation of office activities in metropolitan areas throughout the world has led to the emergence of suburban office centres. This study looks at the phenomena in the Singapore context and examines the viability of a particular area (Katong/Marine Parade) for office development. The study consists essentially of two parts. Office development in Singapore with reference to the emergence of suburban office centres and the economics of office location are covered in the first part. A case study of Katong/Marine Parade with a view to its viability for office development was undertaken in the second part, including a survey of offices in the area. Katong/Marine Parade has a good location possessing the locational attributes desirable for development as a suburban office centre. Firms which locate in the area do not need a central location. The survey revealed the three largest groups of office users attracted to this area to be professional services, wholesale trade and construction firms. Firms in Katong/Marine Parade tend to be small and started their businesses in the area. Therefore, there has not been any significant decentralisation of CBD offices to Katong/Marine Parade. The findings indicate that office development in Katong/Marine Parade is a viable proposition. Its office market and that of other suburban office centres cater to a different set of office users. Far from posing a threat, they would complement the role of the CBD office market.