Around 6,500 shophouses conserved: URA
by Cheryl Tay
More than 7,000 structures and buildings in Singapore have been conserved under the Conservation Programme, according to the URA.
"In our small island home of 714 sq km, over 7,000 heritage buildings and structures in more than 100 areas have been gazetted for conservation. About 6,500 of these are shophouses," said the URA in a report by the Singapore Business Review.
The first shophouses in Singapore that were restored and conserved were in Tanjong Pagar (pictured) in 1987.
"Singapore's Conservation Programme began in the early 1980s as an integral part of city planning. It was the first large-scale urban conservation programme in Southeast Asia that protects urban streets and areas," noted the URA.
Although shophouse styles in Singapore have changed over time from 1840 to 1980 as the country's physical development evolved, some of the old shophouses were still conserved.
Meanwhile, four nature reserves were also protected to safeguard coastal mangroves and tropical rainforests.
The URA emphasised that sustainable development is not limited to building eco-friendly infrastructure and preserving the environment but also means building a solid community as well as preserving built and natural heritage.
Related Stories:Competition heats up between Orchard mallsJalan Sultan site triggered from URA's reserve listMajority stake in Southbank SOHO block up for sale
More from PropertyGuru:
Parkway Life REIT posts increases in Q2 income, DPU
Competition heats up between Orchard malls
Jalan Sultan site triggered from URA's reserve list
Majority stake in Southbank SOHO block up for sale
