Greater Southern Waterfront Transformation
If you head to the southernmost point of Singapore, you’re probably going there for a beach day at Sentosa or a shopping spree at VivoCity – at least, those are the usual suspects.
But soon, there’ll be a whole lot more reasons for you to head to the southern coast, thanks to the Greater Southern Waterfront Transformation. Here’s everything we know about the project so far.
What is the Greater Southern Waterfront Transformation?
It’s a massive project that aims to revitalise the southern region of Singapore. First unveiled as part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Draft Master Plan 2013, the long-term plan will transform the stretch of land from Pasir Panjang to Marina East into a waterfront district with new homes, workplaces, leisure attractions, and green spaces.
Image credit: URA Master Plan
Of course, a project of this scale isn’t going to happen overnight. The developments will be rolled out in phases over the coming years, starting with the former Pasir Panjang Power District, Keppel Club site, and Mount Faber.
What can we expect from the Greater Southern Waterfront Transformation?
Berlayar housing estate
Artist’s impression.
Image credit: Housing & Development Board
Aspiring homeowners looking at BTO estates recently may have come across an unfamiliar name on the list, Berlayar, which actually means “sail” in Malay.
Artist’s impression.
Image credit: Housing & Development Board
For the uninitiated, this is the latest housing estate in the Telok Blangah region, sitting on what used to be Keppel Club’s golf course. An estimated 10,000 new public and private homes are planned to be built here, marking the first concrete step in the Greater Southern Waterfront Transformation.
Relocation of port activities
The existing port terminals on the southern coastline.
Image credit: Island Nation
If you’ve ever driven along the southern coastline, you’ve probably spotted the mountains of shipping containers at our ports. But soon, you’ll see a very different view – by 2027, all port activities in the Brani, Keppel, and Tanjong Pagar terminals will be moved to Tuas. Once the move is complete, about 30km of the coastline will be freed up for redevelopment.
Artist’s impression of Tuas Port in the future.
Image credit: Ministry of Transport
And if you’re wondering how all those port operations will fit into Tuas, the answer lies in the sheer scale of the upcoming Tuas Port. It’s being developed to become the world’s largest fully automated port. By the 2040s, when the port is fully completed, it’ll be the single site for all our port activities.
Land reclamation
Image adapted from: Marina Bay Cruise Centre
After the ports move to Tuas, we’ll also be getting a lot of additional space through land reclamation. This new area will add up to half the size of Marina Bay, and will be reclaimed from the areas of Keppel Terminal to the Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
And in case you were worried about the rising sea levels, this new reclaimed land will also be built at a higher elevation as a precaution, ensuring the area is better protected for the long term while making way for future developments.
New housing at Keppel Terminal & Keppel Distripark site
Keppel Distripark.
Image credit: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr
While Berlayar may be the 1st new estate in the area, it won’t be the only one. You can look forward to new housing developments at Keppel too. These will be built at the sites where the Keppel Terminal and Keppel Distripark currently stand.
And if you end up living here, you won’t be in the middle of nowhere – not only is Keppel MRT Station a stone’s throw away, you’ll also get access to popular spots like Sentosa and VivoCity in the Harbourfront node.
Themed attractions on Pulau Brani
Artist’s impression.
Image credit: Sentosa Development Corporation
This island may not technically fall under the Greater Southern Waterfront, but it’s still a nearby development worth noting. Pulau Brani is set to become a new entertainment hub and will soon be integrated with Sentosa as part of the Greater Sentosa Master Plan, with brand new themed attractions to look forward to.
Waterfront Park at Pasir Panjang Power District
Image credit: 24OWLS
Fans of live music might already be familiar with the Pasir Panjang Power Station, which has hosted its fair share of concerts and live performances over the years. While the surrounding area may not have much to offer now, it’ll be a brand new hangout spot in the near future, when it transforms into the Waterfront Park at Pasir Panjang Power District.
Artist’s impression.
Image credit: URA Master Plan
Back in 2019, URA and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) held the Power-Up Pasir Panjang competition, encouraging the public to come up with ideas to rejuvenate the district. Elements of selected ideas gathered from this open call will be implemented into the design of the new waterfront park.
Harbourfront Centre redevelopment
Image credit: Mapletree
ICYMI, Harbourfront Centre is shuttering its doors this year before undergoing a major redevelopment. What will take its place is a 33-storey mixed-use development, where you can expect to enjoy 5 storeys of retail area alongside a 26-storey office space. This new building is slated to be completed by 2031.
When will the Greater Southern Waterfront Transformation be completed?
Unfortunately, for anyone hoping this would be ready anytime soon, the transformation will take more than a while to be completed. There’s no set schedule for completion; works are expected to take a few decades, with some estimates suggesting it could take around 20 to 30 years to fully complete.
Look forward to a vibrant Greater Southern Waterfront
Being an island nation, we’re very fortunate to be surrounded by ocean views in every direction. And while the wait might be a long one, the end result promises a coastline that’s more liveable and scenic than ever before – definitely something worth looking forward to.
For more developments in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: Mapletree, URA Master Plan, Housing & Development Board