EVOLVING URBAN LAND USE POLICIES: LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE OF THE RAIL CORRIDOR

Abstract

Singapore’s urban land planning authority, the Urban Redevelopment Authority prides itself with the success of planning a country that is “economically vibrant and one of the most livable cities in Asia”. Since implementing the Concept Plan and the Master Plan1, the ambition has been to achieve long term goals of efficiently allocating land for economic growth and for creating an enjoyable living environment.2 To a large extent, emphasis on economic growth has taken precedence over factors such as social and environmental sustainability. In light of the current planning of land use, the dissertation poses the question - Having achieved a level of economic development comparable to developed economies, should social and environmental care take a higher priority in Singapore’s land use planning? With the recent focus on global issues of environmental concern such as climate change, and Singaporeans expressing wants for more social spaces, the dissertation will assess Singapore’s position on how we plan our use of land, through the balancing of competing priorities for urban land use. Two issues surfaced in the post elections 2011. First, a change in the political scene to more consultative governance. Second, the return of the Rail Corridor to Singapore. Both provided the conditions and platform for relooking urban land use planning. Therefore, this dissertation will explore how the Rail Corridor could develop to reflect a new emphasis on Singapore’s urban land use planning.