The Central Area
Today
http://www.ura.gov.sg/DMP2008/central_area.htm
The Central Area comprises several distinctive districts, each with a unique character and mix of uses. These include:
•the prime office district of the Central Business District (CBD) and Marina Centre and Marina Bay
•the premier shopping corridor along Orchard Road
•the waterfront activity belt along Singapore River
•the arts, culture, entertainment and learning enclave at Bras Basah.Bugis
•heritage areas within the Civic District, Little India, Chinatown and Kampong Glam
The overall planning of the Central Area aims to meet business needs and further reinforce the unique character of each district.
The Central Area is already well served by a comprehensive transport network of expressways, roads, and rail lines. Residents enjoy a wide choice of housing in high-quality living environment. These are supported by educational institutions such as Raffles Girl’s School (Secondary), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, LASALLE and Singapore Management University. Major hospitals such as Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Raffles Hospital are among the healthcare facilities here. There are also many civic, cultural and community facilities, like museums and theatres and the National Library at Victoria Sreet.
The Central Area is a high-rise, high-density urban centre that offers many landscaped open spaces for public enjoyment, ranging from the historical Fort Canning Park and Pearl’s Hill City Park, to the romantic Esplanade Park, the Padang, and smaller pocket parks at Duxton Plain and Ann Siang Hill.
New Lifestyle and Recreational Opportunities
Looking ahead, the Central Area will see many exciting new developments – for example, office buildings at Marina Bay, mixed-use developments along the Beach Road / Ophir-Rochor Corridor, and hotels in Little India and along the Singapore River.
The much-anticipated Gardens by the Bay will significantly expand the amount of green open spaces within the city and be a new attraction for tourists and locals alike. It will also be the exciting venue for major events such as the Singapore Garden Festival.
Transport links will be strengthened with three new rail lines and the new Marina Coastal Expressway.
To further enhance the identity and heritage of the Central Area, familiar buildings like the former Rex Theatre and the adjacent Ellison Building, as well as the former Police Buildings at Pearl’s Hill, will be conserved.
Over the next 10 to 15 years, residents and workers in Central Area can look forward to:
•New business and lifestyle developments within the extension of the CBD at Marina Bay and along the Beach Road / Ophir-Rochor Corridor;
•New hotels in established hotel clusters at Little India and Singapore River;
•New parks and open spaces at Marina Bay, such as the Gardens by the Bay and the Art Park
•Better transport connectivity with the new Downtown Lines 1 and 2 (DTL1 & 2), the Thomson Line (TSL) and the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE).
Land area: 1,650 ha
Planning Areas:
- Orchard
Newton
River Valley
Singapore River
Outram
Rochor
Museum
Downtown Core
Marina South
Straits View
Marina East
