Designing places with purpose

Precincts are places with purpose, underpinned by a strong and enduring vision. They are curated and coordinated to drive greater collaboration, better placemaking outcomes and economic growth, supported by better integration of land use and infrastructure investment planning.

A place-based approach is coordinated and deliberate. It brings together governments and the private sector to integrate and support the planning and development process, delivering cohesive and responsive placemaking outcomes.

This approach to precinct design stimulates economic growth, creates jobs and supports liveable, sustainable communities that leave a legacy for the future.

At the heart of all precinct and placemaking projects are the people, communities and businesses they serve. Whilst precincts vary greatly in size, from whole cities to regional and urban centres to neighbourhoods, they all aim to facilitate one or more of the following objectives:

Stimulate growth and opportunity in regional and urban areas

In Australia, governments are looking at new precinct models such as Special Activation Precincts (SAPs) in areas such as Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Moree, Williamtown, the Snowy Mountains and Narrabri, or Regional Job Precincts, like Albury, Richmond Valley and South Jerrabomberra, and State Significant Precincts, such as Waterloo, Redfern and The Bays in Sydney, to stimulate growth in regional and urban areas respectively.

City Deals, like Western Sydney, are one of the largest planning and investment partnerships in Australian history, and in New Zealand, local governments and private developers are playing their part by facilitating the rezoning of suitable land for urban development and promoting the densification of existing urban areas.

Melbourne’s 480 hectare Fishermans Bend is Australia’s largest urban renewal project, consisting of five precincts that by 2050 will incorporate parks, schools, a university campus, transport, community hospital and leisure facilities and house and provide employment for up to 80 000 people.

In Asia, the rapid growth of cities has seen precinct development occur on a massive scale, mostly addressing social and population demands in order to achieve economic returns.

Singapore itself is a large cluster of precincts. The Singapore Land Transport Master Plan 2040 envisions a 24-minute town and a 45-minute city.

In Vietnam, the 400 hectare Waterpoint Precinct in Ho Chi Minh City is being developed to support a decentralised population and provide a vibrant new township for 25 000 residents, as well as a university, retail, commercial and leisure facilities.

Countries like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam have adopted ‘smart city’ ecosystems that focus on relationships between data, assets, users and systems. These can be scaled down to a precinct or district level. A smart precinct approach provides a defined pilot area to test and measure ideas for scaling up and makes it easier for private sector developers to participate in developing alongside government.

Promote social equity

The concept of being able to live, work and play within close proximity is being explored by state governments as part of their 20-minute neighbourhoods or 30-minute cities initiative, which would bring equity of access to housing, jobs, education, health and leisure to communities living within an area that facilitates walking, cycling and the use of public transport to access most of their daily needs.

In some cities, acute housing shortage is also driving precinct growth across multiple sectors. In New Zealand, Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities is leading urban development for affordable housing by densifying existing properties.

In Victoria, the government is replacing old public housing with new investments in social and affordable housing options.

The development of well thought out precincts and neighbourhoods has a key role to play in helping communities address disadvantage and provide equitable access to employment, health, education, housing, cultural and sporting activities and transport.

Focus on a special purpose

Special purpose precincts focused on health, education, circular economy, renewable energy, technology, innovation and/or integrated transport services are also a priority for governments.

In Australia, Innovation Precincts are focused on the sustainable development of key areas that encourage collaboration and innovation, promote growth and job opportunities and deliver business and social benefits. In Hong Kong, the government established Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks to facilitate the creation of a vibrant innovation and technology ecosystem to deliver social and economic benefits to the city and region, now and into the future.

Developers are also leading the creation of precincts around retail, leisure, residential and/or commercial, with projects like the Waterfront Place Precinct in Brisbane, the new city of Drury south of Auckland, and Vietnam’s 1 000 hectare Tuan Chau Island, taking a holistic place-based approach towards integrated transport, sustainable energy, water and waste and adopting the trend towards living, working and accessing essential services within distinct communities.

Across Asia, Business Improvement Districts (BID) are private sector-led initiatives to improve a precinct or district.

In Singapore, for example, if more than 50 per cent of owners cooperate through a membership model, the government will co-fund improvements to the district over a fixed-term and to a maximum fund. This fund could be used for a variety of activities including marketing, placemaking, vibrant activities and for activating an area. This model allows for multi-stakeholder participation and benefit.

Precincts are also focused on areas such as food and agriculture, and oil and gas, such as Jurong Island in Singapore, the Agribusiness Precinct in Western Sydney or the Epping Food Hub in Victoria.

Transit Oriented Developments (ToDs) are combining transport nodes such as train stations with residential and commercial developments, leading to significant investments in and around both road and rail corridors across the Asia-Pacific.

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