The recently released Draft Master Plan by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has promised more green spaces around planned new neighbourhoods, and experts say this could help reduce the environmental impact of urban growth significantly.
But they also emphasise that environmental sustainability will require more than just the building of facilities and hardware.
Some of the green features surrounding new residential and industrial developments that are laid out in the Master Plan include new bio-retention ponds to remove pollutants from storm water run-off, harnessing wind to naturally cool new buildings, and parks to bring recreational spaces closer to home.
Experts say these features can help reduce what is known as the urban heat island effect.
The effect occurs when the temperature in highly built-up developments is higher than rural areas, and can affect local wind and weather patterns.
They say that green spaces will also create more liveable surroundings.
Colin Tan, director and head (research and consultancy) at Suntec Real Estate Consultants, said: “In a densely-populated environment, we do feel the effects of overcrowding.
“And I think some of these green elements help to reduce some of these overcrowding feelings, and may be good for mental health.”
“This overcrowding sometimes manifests itself in the “not-my-backyard” syndrome. You have people complaining about eldercare, hospice located next to you. Sometimes, it is not that people are heartless. But they feel that it is overcrowding —buildings more tightly packed together, feeling of claustrophobia.”
The Master Plan focuses on environmental sustainability, and experts say this could be beyond just green features such as bio-retention ponds.
It could also be in the construction process, such as using recycled concrete from demolished buildings and using materials that have a low carbon footprint.
Dr Kua Harn Wei, Assistant Professor at the National University of Singapore’s School of Design & Environment said: “We do need to see how we can green the entire process of building, rather than just focusing on the green features of the by-product.”
But he said that environmental sustainability also needs buy-in from society, to integrate the “software” into the “hardware”.
Dr Kua said: “Sustainability is not just about infrastructure, it’s not waiting for the government or authorities to build things for us. It’s about how we make use of these facilities in a responsible manner.
“So the onus is also on us, as the users and consumers, on how to make this whole Master Plan a success.”
Dr Kua said this means residents must act responsibly to ensure everyone benefits from the new facilities and spaces.
