Since the bold plans for Jurong Lake District have been unveiled as part of the draft Master Plan 2008, there has been excitement about the transformation of the area. Skyline brings you the key highlights of this exciting makeover.By Serene Tng
Consisting of two complementary precincts – Jurong Gateway and Lakeside, Jurong Lake District is envisioned by the URA planners to be a unique business and leisure destination.
Attractive business address
The 70 ha Jurong Gateway around Jurong MRT station will be the biggest commercial hub with a unique lakeside setting outside the city, providing 500,000 sqm of office space. It will have a good mix of office, retail, hotel, entertainment, food & beverage (F&B) and other complementary uses. To add vitality and enable people to live and work in the area, 1,000 or more homes will be introduced around Jurong East MRT station.
With its close proximity to the International Business Park, industrial estates and research and educational institutions, Jurong Gateway offers a highly attractive location outside the Central Business District for company headquarters, business services as well as companies in the science and technology sectors.
Seamless connections
For a seamless commuter experience, all buildings and public transport facilities in Jurong Gateway will be accessible via a network of walkways at ground level and at the second storey where the MRT concourse is located. These will enable one to walk from place to place in comfort regardless of the weather.
Jurong Gateway will also be connected to Lakeside by a continuous, elevated landscaped deck. This begins at the concourse of Jurong East MRT station and runs all the way to the proposed lakeside village at Jurong Lake.
New thrills by the lake
Spread over 220 ha of land and 70 ha of water, Lakeside is envisaged to be developed into a major leisure destination for Singaporeans and tourists. Families can look forward to a new waterfront park and promenade, more water activities and a loop of attractions with the scenic lakeside setting.
The first anchor attraction is the new world class Science Centre which will be moved next to Chinese Garden MRT station. There are also plans to accommodate four to five new edutainment attractions targeted at families with young children.
A new waterway will be introduced to bring the lake closer to Jurong Gateway and create a lakeside village which offers an alternative shopping and dining experience, with F&B, retail and entertainment uses and boutique hotels by the lake.
Developments already taking place
While the plans for Jurong Lake District may take 10 to 15 years to be fully realised, the area is already seeing many developments taking place. By 2009, the lake will have new water activities and facilities. A new Big Box (hypermarket) development by TT International will be ready with 34,000 sqm of new warehouse retail space. Jurong Entertainment Centre will be redeveloped, featuring Singapore’s first Olympic-sized ice skating rink. A new Jurong General Hospital will also be built, to be ready by 2015.
Source - URA
