Projected Land Utilisation for Industrial, Commercial and Residential Purposes

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for National Development what is the projected land utilisation for industrial, commercial and residential use over the next decade and whether there is likely to be a land shortage.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: We have about 710 sq km of land. Of this, about one third is used for industry, commerce and housing. The remaining two thirds are used for roads, sea port, airport, reservoirs, utilities, military training grounds and also social and community facilities like parks, hospitals, schools. These land use allocations will likely remain the same over the next decade.

While our land is limited, we must plan on the basis that there must always be room for growth, whether qualitative or quantitative. This is necessary to preserve flexibility in Singapore's future growth path. We will continue to augment our land capacity through reclamation, by building higher and by going underground. We will also pursue efforts to recycle and optimise our land to make the best use of this limited resource.

Specifically for residential needs, we expect to open up undeveloped land, such as at Tengah and Bidadari, and also to intensify the use of existing land within mature housing and industrial estates. As we develop, we will always ensure that Singapore remains highly liveable and a great place to raise families.

Land use plans are dynamic. That is why we review them regularly to ensure that they stay relevant. The upcoming discussions on the Population White Paper will help forge a national consensus on this important long term issue. They will sharpen our focus on future infrastructure planning and its execution. We look forward to the discussions and will take in findings from these discussions to help us better prepare Singapore for our future needs.

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