Woodlands Regional Centre to be developed as two distinct precincts

Woodlands North Coast, Woodlands Central unveiled.

Over the weekend, Minister for National Development, Mr Khaw Boon Wan discussed the preliminary plans for Woodlands Regional Centre, which is part of the new North Coast Innovation Corridor that was announced in the Land Use Plan last month.

The Woodlands Regional Centre offers approximately 100 ha of available land for development, and is planned to become a waterfront destination and lifestyle hub. There will be two distinct precincts within the Woodlands Regional Centre, according to Mr Khaw.

The first precinct, the Woodlands North Coast, which includes the area between Republic Polytechnic and the Woodlands Waterfront, is envisioned as a unique waterfront and leisure destination for Singaporeans. The intention is to create a mix of business, residential and lifestyle uses, all within a lush green and waterfront environment.

The other precinct, Woodlands Central, is the area around the Woodlands MRT station. It is envisaged as a pedestrian-friendly regional retail hub serving residents in the North Region. Residents can look forward to a bustling pedestrian mall that serves as a key focal point for leisure and community events. It will be flanked by low-rise commercial developments with bustling activity-generating uses on the first storey to create a vibrant street experience.

Mr Khaw added that the Woodlands Regional Centre will anchor the development of the North Coast Innovation Corridor. Woodlands Regional Centre is envisioned as a vibrant live-work-play environment that will serve as the key commercial cluster in the North Region. By providing alternative locations for businesses outside the city centre, the Woodlands Regional Centre will bring jobs and amenities closer to homes. It will also be connected to the new Thomson MRT Line that will be opened in stages from 2019 to 2021.

Now that the stations, location and alignment of the new Thomson MRT Line have been finalised, Woodlands Regional Centre is expected to be further developed in the next few years, particularly the land around Woodlands MRT interchange station.

Woodlands Regional Centre will also become more accessible in the near future. Besides the existing North South MRT line, two new MRT stations will be added in the area when the Thomson Line is completed, said Mr Khaw. The future North South Expressway will connect Woodlands, Sembawang, Yishun, Ang Mo Kio, Bishan and Toa Payoh with the city centre. And the planned future rail link to Johor will also enhance our connectivity to Malaysia.