SINO-SINGAPORE TIANJIN ECO-CITY DRAFT MASTER PLAN UNVEILED 1 The Ministry of National Development released details of the draft Master Plan for the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city today (17 April 2008). Endorsed at the second meeting of the Joint Working Committee (JWC) on 8 April 2008, the Master Plan will guide the land use and development of the Eco-city site. Goals of the Master Plan 2 The 30 km2 Eco-city site is located 40 km from the Tianjin city centre and 150 km from Beijing. Most of the site currently consists of non-arable land, including salt farms and vacant land. There is a wastewater pond, which is being used as an effluent discharge ground, and an old historical river course in the centre of the site. 3 The goal is to transform an otherwise sterile site into a thriving and vibrant city, where ecological rehabilitation is sensitively balanced with urban development. A key consideration in the formulation of the Master Plan is therefore the need to strike a good balance between environmental protection and economic development. 4 The Master Plan will serve as a guide for the Eco-city to be a practical, scalable and replicable model for other cities in China and other parts of the world in addressing the challenge of reconciling rapid economic growth with sustainable development and social harmony. 5 The target is to complete the entire development in 10 to 15 years’ time, with a projected population of 350,000 residents. The start-up area, of approximately 3 sq. km in size, is scheduled for completion in three to five years’ time. Distinctive Features of the Master Plan Waterbodies and Wetlands Amidst Four Districts 6 A key feature of the Master Plan is a central core of conserved ecological wetlands and rehabilitated waterbodies. The areas surrounding this core will be divided into four main districts, each to be served by an urban sub-centre. The main centre of the Eco-city will be located on the southern bank of the historical Ji Canal course, which has been planned for a variety of uses, including commercial, cultural, and recreational uses. This will allow for a varied live-work-play environment close to the natural environment, and enable as much public access as possible to the waterfront. Self-Sustaining Live-Work-Play Environment 7 Most of the residential and business park developments will be located further away from the main centre. They will be interspersed with well-designed open spaces that facilitate social interaction. This will ensure the vibrancy of the Eco-city and a high-quality living environment for its residents. There are also proposed university and hospital sites within the Eco-city, thus enabling it to cater to the diverse needs of its residents. Environmentally Friendly Transportation 8 With high priority given to environmentally friendly transport and non-motorised transportation, a good public transport network, cycling paths and green connectors have been integrated into the Master Plan. A light rail transit (LRT) line running through the Eco-city will serve as the main mode of transport, supplemented by a secondary network of buses or trams. Eco-Cell As A Building Block 9 The basic building block of the Eco-city Master Plan is a single cell, or “Eco-Cell” that serves to integrate the different land uses within a modular 400 m by 400 m grid. Educational institutions, commercial areas, workplaces, and recreational areas are distributed within these Eco-Cells and located close to the residential areas to minimize commuting. Together, these Eco-Cells add up to form neighbourhoods, districts, and eventually the urban centres. Eco-Valley 10 Another key feature is an “Eco-Valley” running through the Eco-city as a north-south connector. It serves as the main ecological green spine and incorporates water-sensitive urban design elements, such as eco-swales and dry streams. The Eco-Valley will connect the major transit nodes, residential areas, community facilities, and commercial centres. It will be a key public open space and focal point of the Eco-city. Heritage Conservation 11 The selective conservation of some existing buildings within the Eco-city will also be carried out. The retention and adaptive re-use of these historical structures will serve as a link to the area’s heritage. Application of Green Technologies 12 The Eco-city aims to be an environmentally friendly and resource-efficient city. Various technologies will be adopted to ensure the effective and efficient recycling of refuse, sewerage and wastewater. The use of clean and renewable energy in the Eco-city will also be promoted. All buildings in the Eco-city will conform to green building standards to ensure efficient energy usage. Public Consultation in Tianjin, China 13 The Tianjin Municipal Government will release the Master Plan for public consultation in Tianjin, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) next week. Further refinements will then be made before the Master Plan is submitted for approval by the Chinese authorities. In the meantime, work has commenced on the detailed plans for the 3 sq km start-up area. The detailed plans of the start-up area will be reviewed at the next JWC meeting to be held in Tianjin in late-May 2008. Completion of A Milestone 14 The completion of the Master Plan for the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city is a key milestone in the progress of the Eco-city. Developed jointly by the Singapore planning team led by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design, and the Tianjin Urban Planning and Design Institute, the Master Plan is a showcase of the best ideas from both Singapore and the PRC. It reflects our common vision of an Eco-city that is economically vibrant, socially harmonious, environmentally friendly and resource-efficient. Issued by : Ministry of National Development Date : 17 April 2008 << Back