Latest news with #URA
Malaysiakini
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Before bulldozers arrive: Lesson for Urban Renewal Act
COMMENT | As the government prepares to table the long-anticipated Urban Renewal Act (URA) in Parliament this year, it is crucial to pause and ask: Who truly benefits from redevelopment? While the Act aims to rejuvenate decaying urban areas, streamline land use, and facilitate en-bloc redevelopment with lower consent thresholds, its human implications remain deeply underexplored. A case study from a historic district of Padang Pahlawan (Field of Heroes) in Malacca, one I conducted in 2008, serves as a vital cautionary tale. Through surveys and interviews with 180 respondents, including small vendors and residents, the findings paint a compelling picture of what happens when renewal is imposed without thoughtful engagement, historical sensitivity, or inclusive planning. Padang Pahlawan, once a vibrant, open space rich in cultural and historical value, was the site where Malaysia's independence was first proclaimed in Malacca.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
i Light Singapore 2025 launched on May 29
National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat (second from left) invited the public to view the Draft Master Plan 2025 exhibition when it launches on June 25. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI New city blueprint to be launched at URA Draft Master Plan exhibition on June 25 SINGAPORE – Singapore will have a new blueprint to guide the city's development over the coming years when the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) launches its Draft Master Plan on June 25. Announcing the launch date at an event on May 29, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said visitors to the exhibition of the masterplan will see 'how we are planning for a liveable, inclusive and endearing home. A home that all of us can be proud of'. Mr Chee was speaking at the opening of the art festival i Light Singapore, which is in its 11th edition and features 17 light installations in Marina Bay, Raffles Place, the Singapore River and South Beach. The URA Master Plan – one of two major development blueprints by Singapore's planning authority – is a statutory document that guides Singapore's development for the next 10 to 15 years and is reviewed once every five years. It translates broader strategies from the other development blueprint – the Long-Term Plan – into detailed plans that guide how land and properties are used. The Long-Term Plan, which guides plans for the next 50 years and beyond, is reviewed once every decade, with the last edition unveiled at an exhibition in 2022. Public consultations for the upcoming masterplan began in October 2023, and conversations have been shaped around four themes: Shaping A Happy Healthy City, Enabling Sustainable Growth, Strengthening Urban Resilience and Stewarding Our Nature And Heritage . Current developments are guided by the URA Master Plan 2019, which came into force in November that year after it was exhibited for a few months. The Guardians by Matthew Aberline and The Beautiful and Useful Studio (Australia), located at Raffles Place Park. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR Highlights from the 2019 masterplan include the Rail Corridor, Punggol Digital District and the Greater Southern Waterfront. Some of these projects are still in development. Speaking at Marina Bay, Mr Chee said the transformation of the bay area is a testament to Singapore's long-term planning and meticulous implementation. He noted that plans for the bay were developed in the 1970s, when pioneer leaders and planners saw the need to expand Singapore's city centre to support the country's growth as a global business and financial hub. Reclamation of 360ha of land to form the bay took place between the 1970s and 1990s, with landmarks such as Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay's Bay South Garden built entirely on reclaimed land later. The area's transformation 'is the story of the foresight of those who came before us, who dared to dream and who have laid the foundations for a better Singapore', Mr Chee said. He said the bay is part of Singapore's skyline, which is recognised globally, and that the area is 'a people's bay', with community spaces for all to enjoy. Initiatives such as i Light Singapore gather people from all walks of life and help to bring these community spaces to life, said Mr Chee, who added that the festival celebrates aspirations for a sustainable, shared future. He cited the Bridge Of 1,000 Dreams, an installation that features a thousand illuminated bamboo sticks on Cavenagh Bridge, each of which was decorated by a child and reflects 'the dreams and visions of Singaporeans'. Mr Chee interacting with guests at the launch of i Light Singapore 2025, with the art installation Bridge Of 1,000 Dreams in the background. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI The work is by Studio Toer, a multidisciplinary design studio from The Netherlands, and features Singapore motifs created by local design studio Binary Style. Mr Castor Bours, Studio Toer's co-founder, said having children work on the bamboo sticks 'may be the most important part of the installation'. He added: 'At the end, the sticks are put on a beautiful bridge, but the whole process of helping people think about what they want for their city, what they want for their future in a creative way – that's what makes this installation different from others.' He said having public art installations in the city helps break the monotony of daily life. 'People have their rituals, they walk to work and return from their workplace, and somehow, with an installation, this breaks the ritual a bit,' Mr Bours said. 'They take a few seconds or maybe minutes to get off that rhythm, and be inspired again by their own city. It's a way to be distracted from reality.' Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
URA to unveil Draft Master Plan 2025 in June: Chee Hong Tat
[SINGAPORE] The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will be unveiling the Draft Master Plan 2025 on Jun 25, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat on Thursday (May 29). The long-awaited draft masterplan, which will map out Singapore's detailed land plans for the next 10 to 15 years, is being introduced at an exhibition after city planners gathered public feedback following the launch of the engagement exercise in October 2023. More homes are being planned in various locations in the Central Region such as Bukit Timah Turf City, Mount Pleasant, the former Keppel Golf Course and Marina South. The government is also focusing on decentralisation, with Jurong Lake District set to become the largest mixed-use district outside the Central Business District. Plans are underway to further develop Changi Aviation Park and Changi City as well as regional hubs such as Tampines and Punggol Digital District. The public was also consulted on a recreation masterplan which will spotlight Singapore's parks, public spaces and attractions as well as 'Long Island', a 800 hectare land reclamation project along the eastern coast of Singapore. Chee was speaking at the opening ceremony for i Light Singapore, the light art festival held in Marina Bay since 2010. The festival was launched by URA to mark the opening of Marina Bay. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up Chee said: 'Our vision for Marina Bay started as early as the 1970s, when our pioneer generation of leaders and planners foresaw the need to expand the city centre to support and sustain Singapore's long-term growth as a global business and financial hub.' 'Plans were set in motion, to reclaim some 360 hectares of prime waterfront land around a new waterbody that is seamlessly connected to the existing city centre.' Today, Marina Bay is a dynamic and modern hub anchored on sustainable infrastructure with attractions and mixed-use developments, Chee said. 'The transformation of Marina Bay is a story of long-term planning and also meticulous implementation.' Every 10 years, the government reviews the Long-Term Plan that guides the development of Singapore, mapping out strategic land uses and infrastructure needs over the next 50 years. Chee said: 'This is how far we plan ahead so that we are ready for the future.' The development of Singapore is not just about constructing buildings and infrastructure but also about connecting people and places and creating spaces where Singaporeans live, work and play, the minister said. He said: 'As I take on this new portfolio at MND... it is a very challenging task but it is also a very meaningful job. I hope to continue to engage and collaborate with all of you – our stakeholders and partners – to transform even more of our public spaces into vibrant and impactful experiences that brighten our lives, strengthen our community identity and foster a sense of shared ownership of this beautiful city we call home.'
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Donald Choi takes helm of Hong Kong's cash-strapped URA amid mounting challenges
A veteran property specialist with experience in leading major Hong Kong real estate groups has been appointed to steer the cash-strapped Urban Renewal Authority (URA). The government on Thursday announced the appointment of Donald Choi Wun-hing, the former CEO of Chinachem Group, as the authority's managing director from June 15, for three years, when the incumbent chief Wai Chi-sing is set to retire after his nine-year leadership. '[Choi] has a deep understanding of the local land and housing planning, the property market, conservation of historic buildings, green buildings and innovative construction techniques, among others, and is committed to creating quality and vibrant urban living in Hong Kong,' the Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said. 'I am confident that Mr Choi will lead the URA management in furthering the important task of urban renewal, as well as effectively handling the challenges of building decay while maintaining the financial sustainability of the URA.' Choi, an architect by profession, was the CEO of Chinachem Group from 2018 to August 2024 before his retirement. He was also previously the managing director of Nan Fung Development and a director of the well-known architectural firm Foster and Partners. Choi has also served the industries as a former president of both the Hong Kong Institute of Architects and of the Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design. Since the 2022-23 financial year, the self-financing statutory body has been struggling with its deficit, which stood at HK$3.9 billion (US$497.5 million) in the 2023-24 financial year.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
NST Leader: Revitalising urban areas
IN a world where science and technology dominate, the old eventually make way for the new. Antiquated vehicles, buildings and infrastructure are rapidly demolished and replaced. Fashion is dictated by youthful trends, and new ideas bring fresh paradigms and ideologies. Tech startups are overhauling the way we work, play, love, eat and trade. The young, armed with more money, power and influence, tear through tradition, devoid of sentimentality. But they are persuaded to compromise: they are allowed to flatten swathes of the past provided they retain some of the ruins. For instance, the Porta de Santiago gate of the 15th century Portuguese fortress of A Famosa in Melaka, lies surrounded by a water theme park, safari, golf course, hotel and shopping mall. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation designated it a World Heritage site. In developing the BBCC Lalaport mall in Kuala Lumpur, the developers maintained the Pudu Jail main gate. Sometimes, developers are denied. In the 1990s, a major developer could have bulldozed Stadium Merdeka, Stadium Negara and Victoria Institution. Fortunately, common sense prevailed: the historical sites went unmolested. Against this backdrop, Kuala Lumpur City Hall was implored to retain historical elements in redeveloping 139 areas to include memories of the original communities that had developed strong cultural roots and identity. Progress cannot be allowed to destroy national heritage. The Urban Renewal Act (URA) has been touted as a pragmatic platform to redevelop dilapidated urban areas and improve quality of life. Let's make one thing clear: rapid development is not a bad idea but capricious development is, especially if it damages historic neighbourhoods, hometowns and cities. Malaysia has to at least stop constructing buildings that are later neglected to the point of deformity. Instead of demolishing, city fathers must create thoughtful urban design, strengthened by political will to overcome long-term short-sightedness. In justifying development, the URA may prove to be a useful and powerful development tool but in its current framework, its deployment is reactionary, created to mend previous decades of myopic development decisions. The Act's impact on property rights, gentrification and displacement of low-income residents cannot be overstated. Solutions are available: the URA's goals, procedures and impact must involve communities during planning and decision-making. The URA should integrate with broader urban planning strategies because its complexities are underscored by strong arguments on both sides. The ideal outcome is not only to redevelop and revitalise urban areas, but also protect residents' rights and well-being with fair compensation and spacious and liveable replacement housing.
