Somerset In Orchard Road Will Have A New Attraction

credits: onemap

Somerset In Orchard Road Tender Specifications:

• 1) This 4,609-square-metre site can be used to build a variety of attractions, including adventure rides like the Skyline Luge Sentosa, museums like the Museum of Ice Cream, as well as lifestyle and nature parks.
• 2) Furthermore, retail establishments along with food and beverage options that enhance the proposed attraction are permitted.
• 3) Also, the authorities suggested leveraging innovation and technology to enhance the visitor experience.
• 4) It cannot, however, be used as an office, fitness studio, gym, nightclub or worship place.
• 5) Any development shall not exceed 60% of the site’s gross floor area and have a maximum gross floor area of 2,000 square metres and a maximum height of 20m, or approximately 6 storeys.
• 6) At each of Orchard Road’s four sub-precincts – Dhoby Ghaut, Somerset, Orchard and Tanglin – URA, STB and the National Parks Board (NPB) will introduce shop ideas, attractions, events and entertainment.
• 7) The idea of Somerset was to be a hub for youth and entertainment with products geared toward youth.

credits: cna

What Experts Say:

According to Ngee Ann Polytechnic senior tourism instructor Michael Chiam, the Somerset location is more very convenient because it is within the city. Attractions for young people should include a variety of activities that appeal to their interests, including lifestyle, adventure and experience activities.
Dr Chiam noted that Singapore will have to develop new tourist offers in response to the lifting of Covid-19 travel restrictions.

No Specific Date Stated In Attraction Opening:

The SLA, URA, and STB have given no specific opening date in their joint statement to The Straits Times, but they have stated that tenderers should include a timetable in their bid, with all authorized construction activities to be completed within two years of the lease starting.
Tender award will be in 2022, February.
Nicholas Mak, ERA’s head of research and consultancy, believes the tender may not produce the expected outcomes due to the lease’s short duration of 3 + 3 years maximum tenure. He felt that for any developer to earn a reasonable profit in developing a new idea Somerset in Orchard Road, a 6-year lease is insufficient to see the desired profitable result. Just on planning alone, it may already take up to 2 years. It would not be a walk in the park to come up with a fresh and first idea for the development. And if any developer is capable of doing that, they would like to be rewarded well for it.

New Hotel Plan For Faber House Under Strategic Development Incentive Scheme:

There are also plans for a new hotel and event facility in Somerset.
Developer UOL Group announced in February 2021 its plans to convert the commercial building at Faber House into an 18-storey, 250-room hotel. It sits across the street from 313 @ Somerset. 1st half of 2022 will see the 1st phase of construction.
The UOL plans to convert Faber House into a hotel under the Strategic Development Incentive Scheme, which supports the revival of older structures that improve the urban environment of an area.

Event Space Plan For Open-Air Parking At Grange Rd And Somerset Rd Ready In 2022:

As of June 2020, Lendlease Global Commercial Reit has won a tender to rebuild the open-air parking at Somerset Rd and Grange Road.
The venue will open in 2022 and include a food culture experience and historical attraction; and The Projector will operate run an independent theatre.

Review:

It is with great anticipation for all as we await the opening of the event space at the open-air parking at Somerset Rd and Grange Road. This indicates the start of the rejuvenation exercise for Orchard Road. Is this going to be a food-tasting sort of event with a fusion of cuisines gathered in one place serviced by historical characters, one wonders.
It is with much hope that the Somerset Belt Masterplan created with the Somerset youth in mind will get as much support from the government as possible to make this part of the Orchard Road rejuvenation a success.
The new hotel to be developed by UOL on the Faber House site currently housing UOB will definitely introduce a new façade and fresh outlook to that area. The closest hotel cluster in this area is 4 streets away. They include Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard, Hotel Grand Central, Hotel Chancellor @ Orchard, Hotel Supreme and Concorde Hotel. These hotels have been there for quite some years now. A new introduction at the Faber House will bring with it new ideas for more changes to revitalise our king shopping street, Orchard Road.
Behind Faber House is the quaint and conserved Emerald Hill private landed properties. They come with distinct peranakan features which distinguishes them from the rest of the buildings in Orchard Rd. These are former homes to the wealthy Peranakan community. Tourists will find it a joy to walk around the idyllic and charming neighbourhood.
The entire Orchard Road is filled with shopping malls. A left turn or a right turn brings you to one for you to fill your entire afternoons with retail therapies. The new attractions and experiences plan for the 4 sub-precincts in Orchard Road will add more activities and entertainment to the already power-packed shopping street.
Some Singapore new launch condos in the Orchard vicinity include 8 Hullet at Emerald Hill area, Haus On Handy at 30 Handy Road opposite Plaza Singapura, Lloyd Sixty-Five at 65 Lloyd Road, Reignwood Hamilton Scotts at 37 Scotts Road, Cairnhill 16 at 16 Cairnhill Rise, 111 Emerald Hill at 111 Emerald Hill, Scotts Square at 8 Scotts Road, The Ritz-Carlton Residences at 65 Cairnhill Road and Klimt Cairnhill at 71 Cairnhill Road.
Sources:
1) https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-attraction-to-be-developed-in-somerset-part-of-broader-plan-to-rejuvenate-orchard-road
2) https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/somerset-youth-district-be-revamped-based-youths-ideas