Community Impact Assessments to Ensure Free Spaces are Preserved for Spontaneous Community and Youth Activities

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry will establish Community Impact Assessments to evaluate the social value of unprogrammed open fields before redevelopment; and (b) what planning frameworks ensure these accessible, free spaces are preserved for spontaneous community and youth activities as housing density increases.

Mr Chee Hong Tat: The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) works with other agencies to plan for a variety of community and recreational spaces to meet the needs of residents. URA also engages the public to better understand how spaces are used and valued by the community. For example, as part of the Master Plan 2025 review, URA engaged the public on the Recreation Master Plan, which seeks to provide more recreation nodes, accessible spaces near homes and workplaces for sports, arts, heritage and wellness uses, as well as avenues for more ground-up placemaking and co-creation of community spaces. Land for these uses are safeguarded in the Master Plan.

To maximise the use of our limited land, the Singapore Land Authority also opens up suitable state land that is not required for immediate development for interim community use, including open fields.

As such fields are intended for interim use and adequate community and recreational spaces have been safeguarded through the Master Plan, the Government has no plans to establish a formal Community Impact Assessment before redevelopment.