1. The Singapore Liveability Framework
Wong Kai Yeng
Member, Panel of Experts
Centre for Liveable Cities
Ministry of National Development, Singapore

2. Singapore today A global city and endearing home

3. Singapore in the 1950s & 1960s A country plagued with challenges of urbanisation

4. Singapore: A city-state’s challenges
5.40 Million
Population of 5.54 mil
Land area of 719 km2
Very limited natural resources
Essential needs of a country for defence, accessibility (airport,
sea port), basic survival (e.g. water supply and catchment)

5. Some Key Singapore Statistics
S$69,050 per capita GDP*
Compared to S$1,310 in the 1960s
1.9% unemployment rate*
Compared to 8.6% in the 1960s
* 2013 data from the Department of Statistics Singapore
90.5% home ownership
100% access to clean water
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6. The CLC Liveability Framework
Urban Systems Approach for planning and developing a liveable city
Integrated Master Planning & Development
Dynamic Urban Governance
High
Quality of Life
Sustainable
Environment
Competitive
Economy
Systems (How’s)
Outcomes (What’s)
Integrated Master Planning & Development
1. Think long term
2. “Fight productively”
3. Build in flexibility
4. Execute effectively
5. Innovate systematically
Dynamic Urban Governance
1. Lead with vision and pragmatism
2. Build a culture of integrity
3. Cultivate sound institutions
4. Involve the community as stakeholders
5. Work with markets

7. Competitive Economy City in a Garden Business Park Industrial City
Knowledge Economy
G D P G r o w t h
High value added Industry
Labour Intensive Manufacturing
Entrepot
Cleantech Park
City in a Garden
International Business Park
Jurong Island
Business Park
Industrial City
Singapore River
Port City
Industrial Parks
Overcrowding
Pollution
Traffic Congestion
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8. Sustainable Environment
1. Adequate land, water and energy to meet long term needs.
2. Clean and good quality environment
(Air, water, waste management, noise level).
3. Green & Healthy Eco-Systems
4. Resilient to Environmental Risks
(Climate Change, Natural Disasters, Food Security)
High
Quality of Life
Competitive
Economy
Sustainable
Environment
Outcomes (What’s)
Systems (How’s)
Integrated Master Planning & Development
Dynamic Urban Governance
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9. Sustainable Environment
City in a Garden: Green Cover
Between 1986 and 2010, despite growth in population from 2.7 million to 5 million…
The green cover in Singapore grew from 35.7% to almost 50%
The green cover in Singapore in 1986

10. Sustainable Environment
City in a Garden: Green Cover
Between 1986 and 2010, despite growth in population from 2.7 million to 5 million…
The green cover in Singapore grew from 35.7% to almost 50% by 2010

11. Sustainable Environment Cleaning Up the Singapore River
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12. + Sustainable Environment Adequate Water to Meet Long Term Needs
“Conserve Water”
(MC Pricing)
Imported
Water +
4 National Taps
“Water for All”
3P Approach
“Conserve, Value, Enjoy”
“Value Our Water”
(Demand mgmt)
Local catchment
(2/3 of land area)
“Enjoy Our Waters”
(ABC Waters)
Desalinated water
(10% of demand)
NEWater
(30% of demand)
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13. Sustainable Environment Integrating Water with the Urban Environment
Blue Map of Singapore
asset.
17 reservoirs
32 rivers
7,000 km of waterways and drains

14. Sustainable Environment ABC Waters
ABC (Active, Beautiful and Clean) at Bishan Park and Alexandra Canal
Marina Barrage

15. Integrated Master Planning & Development Dynamic Urban Governance
Quality of Life
Safe & Secure living environment
Cohesive & Diverse Society (Immigration & Integration)
Equitable & Inclusive Society
Public Health Standards
Accessible, Adequate, Affordable and Diverse Essential, Social, Recreational & Cultural Needs
High
Quality of Life
Competitive
Economy
Sustainable
Environment
Outcomes (What’s)
Systems (How’s)
Integrated Master Planning & Development
Dynamic Urban Governance
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16. Copyright © Centre for Liveable Cities
Quality of Life
Public Housing
Treelodge at Punggol
High-density & high rise HDB flats built in 1960s – 1970s when no other cities thought it was necessary. (> 80% ownership today)
Purchase financially-aided through Central Provident Fund to help citizens to be self-reliant.
Ensure social integration through mixture of flat types, quota. Keep community identities strong.
Self-sufficient New Towns with schools, supermarkets, clinics, hawker centres, sports and recreational facilities.
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17. New Integrated Developments
Quality of Life
New Integrated Developments
New Integrated Developments
Vibrant place with a sense of community
Integrated seniors care, childcare, family development services
Community gardens
Punggol
Woodlands
Source: HDB, TNP, ST Graphics

18. Quality of Life Urban Mobility
LTMP 2013 Project
Est. Completion
Cross Island Line
By 2030
Jurong Region Line
By 2025
Circle Line 6
North East Line Extension
Downtown Line Extension

19. Quality of Life Greener, Healthier Mobility
A greener and healthier alternative, increasingly popular for short distance travel and as ‘first/last-mile’ of public transport journey
National Cycling Plan
More than 700km of cycling paths island-wide by 2030
Active Mobility
Joint initiative with ULI, and has sparked initiatives with LTA on cycling towns in Ang Mo Kio, Tampines etc
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20. Integrated Master Planning & Development
Dynamic Urban Governance
High
Quality of Life
Sustainable
Environment
Competitive
Economy
Systems (How’s)
Outcomes (What’s)
Integrated Master Planning & Development
1. Think long term
2. “Fight productively”
3. Build in flexibility
4. Execute effectively
5. Innovate systematically

21. Integrated Master Planning & Development
Concept Plans
Ring Plan structure
High-density satellite towns built around central water catchment area
Shaped the key transport developments – Changi Airport, MRT, expressways network
1971
Decentralisation strategy
Commercial centres to be developed in different parts of Singapore
Bring jobs closer to homes and alleviate congestion in the city centre
Constellation Plan1991
Focused on providing a high quality living environment
More housing options in the city to inject vibrancy into central area
Set aside land in CBD for development of global financial hub

22. Dynamic Urban Governance
Integrated Master Planning & Development
Dynamic Urban Governance
High
Quality of Life
Sustainable
Environment
Competitive
Economy
Systems (How’s)
Outcomes (What’s)
Dynamic Urban Governance
1. Lead with vision and pragmatism
2. Build a culture of integrity
3. Cultivate sound institutions
4. Involve the community as stakeholders
5. Work with markets
Dynamic Urban Governance

23. Dynamic Urban Governance Leading with Vision and Pragmatism
“After independence, I searched for some dramatic way to distinguish ourselves… I settled for a clean and green Singapore… for if we had First world standards, then businessmen and tourists would make us a base for their business and tours of the region.”
- Lee Kuan Yew

24. Dynamic Urban Governance Build a Culture of Integrity
Fiscal solvency and sustainability of projects
Accountability to citizens
Excellence in public sector

25. Dynamic Urban Governance Cultivate Sound Institutions
Formal institutions
Informal institutions or “norms”
Public Service Week
Merit-based system

26. Copyright © Centre for Liveable Cities
Dynamic Urban Governance Involve the Community as Stakeholders
Source: PUB
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27. Dynamic Urban Governance Involve the Community as Stakeholders
Marina Barrage
Source: PUB

28. Dynamic Urban Governance Work with Markets
Private sector called into service of the public sector
Eg. energy market
Continued public sector provision of water and majority of healthcare

29. Dynamic Urban Governance
Government
People and Communities
Private Enterprise
Lead with vision and pragmatism
Build a culture of integrity
Cultivate sound institutions
Working with markets
Involve community as stakeholders
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30. Copyright © Centre for Liveable Cities
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