New integrated development to be built in Woodlands

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan has announced plans for a new integrated development in Woodlands.

The new development is the first of its kind and is purposefully designed as a convenient one-stop hub with wide-ranging facilities, to cater to the diverse needs of the community.

Located next to Admiralty MRT station, the development will comprise facilities such as shops, a new-generation hawker centre, a childcare centre, two studio apartment blocks with a senior activity centre, as well as healthcare services such as a medical centre and senior care centre.

A joint statement from the National Development and Health Ministries said the seamless delivery of social and healthcare services is a key planning and design consideration of the integrated development.

The aim is to provide residents with easy access to these services.

There will be a medical centre that will provide outpatient clinic consultation and diagnostic service.

The centre will place a strong emphasis on community health outreach activities, to help patients manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart problems, and encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle through patient education and activities.

To further support the needs of elderly residents, there will be an integrated senior care centre providing both health and social care services, which would enable those with multiple needs to age in place within an environment that they are familiar with.

A range of services such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy services, day care services and nursing care services will be available, giving family caregivers an option with peace of mind to leave their loved ones in the centre’s care during the day when they are at work.

The two studio apartment blocks in the development will feature some 100 apartments specially designed with active seniors in mind.

Residents will have one-stop convenience of shopping, dining, and senior-related services at their doorstep while ageing in place.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Ministry of Health (MOH), in partnership with Alexandra Health System, National Environment Agency, Early Childhood Development Agency and Ministry of Social and Family Development, are involved in the project.

The development will also feature community spaces where residents of all ages can come together to pursue their interests or participate in activities.

These spaces include a community farm and herb garden where residents can bond over gardening.

Beyond the amenities, residents can also look forward to a greener town.

The overall landscape design will provide shade for residents to enjoy outdoor recreational activities.

Construction works are slated to begin in 2014 and are estimated to complete in about three years.

In a blog post, Mr Khaw said the development will create a modern, urban kampong within a busy city which can pull people together and create a strong sense of community, familiarity and identity.

“The design also incorporates many opportunities for the young and old, families and friends, to mingle and bond over events, thus fostering a more caring and vibrant community,” he said.

Mr Khaw added that residents will enjoy greater convenience and accessibility.

He pointed to a similar integrated development in Bilbao, Spain he visited when he was there to chair the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum.

“This project in Woodlands can be as successful as Bilbao’s Alhondiga,” Mr Khaw noted.

Ms Ellen Lee, an MP for Sembawang GRC, said: “The facilities that are going to be there are not just for the elderly alone. We have the senior activities centre. We have got the childcare as well.

“So, we are actually looking at young adults who are working and may need to have someone to take care of their children.

“For those who do not want to hire foreign domestic maids, and they think that the best persons to look after the kids would be their parents, I think this would be a good arrangement, because within the area itself, they have got their parents, perhaps, staying nearby in the development and the children can be sent to the childcare centres over there.

“For their own convenience, the supermarket and hawker centre will come into play as well.”

Souce – CNA – 1 Aug 2013