Town Planning

In developing towns and estates, HDB takes a comprehensive approach where residents’ needs and lifestyle aspirations play an important part in the planning.

Our towns are designed to be self-sufficient, with easy access to shops, schools, and social and recreational facilities, and an abundance of greenery. Residents of newer towns can look forward to more facilities that will be progressively added, as the towns continue to develop and grow.

The Neighbourhood Concept

A town centre lies at the heart of every HDB town, and serves as the key commercial and activity hub.

Smaller neighbourhoods of typically 4,000 to 6,000 residential units surround the town centre, with each having its own shops, schools, and integrated facilities.

The neighbourhoods, in turn, comprise precincts of about 400 to 800 residential units, with shops and precinct facilities, such as 3-generational playgrounds, fitness corners, and community gardens.

Hierarchy of Facilities

Facilities at the precinct, neighbourhood, and town levels complement one another. They are distributed based on a hierarchical concept that offers residents proximity to a variety of amenities. Facilities within the precinct and neighbourhood take care of most of residents’ day-to-day needs.

In the town centres are facilities catering to a wider range of needs, such as shopping malls, large supermarkets, departmental stores, and restaurants. Recreational and social facilities that serve a wider catchment of residents such as sports complexes, libraries and community clubs are at the town level.

Planning for Connectivity

Towns are planned with a comprehensive transport infrastructure, including cycling, and pedestrian networks, for convenience and connectivity. Every block has access to a bus stop or MRT/ LRT station, which makes for easy travelling within the town and to the rest of Singapore.

The town centre is typically also an integrated hub for public transportation, where the MRT station and bus interchange are located.

Checkerboard Concept

Within each town, there is an interspersing of low-rise developments such as schools, parks and community buildings in between high-rise residential developments. This checkerboard concept guides our planning and helps to provide visual and spatial relief throughout the town for a pleasant living environment. Community facilities are also evenly distributed in the town for better accessibility for residents.