Geography IGCSE - Singapore's urban areas

Singapore population

5.5 million (2021, world bank)

Singapore location

An island off of the southern tip of Malaysia in Southeast Asia.

Singapore’s Urban planning

1958 Master Plan laid foundation for urban planning in Singapore

BP1 (Air pollution)

overconsumption of high order goods → the majority have privately owned cars → burning of oil + coal → 52nd worst air pollution in the world→ affects public health → e.g. haze + respiratory issues → gov introduce new bus routes to improve public transport → encourage more people to use it → cheaper + more efficient

BP2 (Noise pollution)

increase in construction → higher demand for high order goods e.g. cars, speaker → increase in urban noise levels → average noise level in Singapore is 69 decibels → disrupts daily life → introduced a law that any activity that creates noise nuisance cannot be carried out after 1030 pm → helps reduce noise level in dense residential areas

BP3 (traffic accidents)

High no. of privately owned cars → improperly designed roads that are not meant to fit the exceeding numbers of cars → increase in risk of collisions + congestion → 7700 injuries reported in 2019 → gov implemented 240 red light cameras across the road networks → aims to improve road safety + traffic flow

BP4 (housing shortages)

Wants to urbanise area by getting rid of slum settlements → brownfield sites → 10-storey block at Toa Payoh central was destroyed to make a five 40-storey block → improves the need of basic hygiene → using the land efficiently since there is not a lot of land → increases housing supply

CBD BP1 ( around locations like Raffles Place, the office rental rate is $7.10 per square foot per month)

shows high value of land → premium on space in central urban locations → due to concentration of commercial activities → strategic importance of areas for business operations

CBD BP2 (Major financial institutions like DBS Bank, OCBC and UOB headquartered in CBD)

CBD seen as central economic zone → drives financial transactions + business activities of CBDs → presence show CBD's role as financial nucleus of Singapore + in Asia's economy

CBD BP3 (highly accessible with public transport links including major MRT stations)

CBD designed to be accessible part of city → extensive transport links → supports daily influx of commuters + transport of goods and services