PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE MAKING OF THE CONCEPT PLAN

Abstract

Public participation has been given recognition as an integral part of the planning process in Singapore in recent years. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has been actively engaging the expert groups, interest groups and the general public, and also opening up avenues through which a wider spectrum of the public could participate in. Although studies have been conducted to find out the perception of citizens on national issues and political participation, there has not been any study specific to participation in the making of the Concept Plan. This study is thus a modest attempt to provide some understanding on the perception of the public in relation to the public consultation for the Concept Plan and to examine the willingness to participate in the public consultation exercise.

The study revealed a low level of awareness of the Concept Plan and the public consultation exercise. Given that awareness and knowledge of the planning process and the Concept Plan is an implicit requirement for participation to take place, this has serious implications on the effectiveness of the public consultation exercises. Slightly more than half of the respondents expressed their willingness to participate, indicating the desire to play an active role in the shaping the physical landscape of Singapore. Analysis also showed that the willingness to participate is significantly related to age and education level, in which younger respondents and respondents with higher qualifications expressed greater willingness to participate. There is potential for greater public participation in the plan-making process of the Concept Plan if there is sufficient public outreach to increase the awareness of the Concept Plan.