Living in the Central Business District (CBD) may be convenient for some professionals and executives, but I think a typical Singaporean family wouldn’t consider that part of central Singapore as a desirable neighbourhood to raise a family. Besides some straightforward drawbacks – such as the lack of schools and green spaces – the CBD is notoriously lacking when it comes to the type of lifestyle amenities that cater to families. Once the weekend comes around, the streets of Shenton Way or Anson Road grow quiet. Of course, there are a handful of oases of activity in certain pockets, but by and large most of the retail and F&B outlets shut early, waiting for the office crowd to roll in when the weekday returns. For decades, Singapore’s urban planners have been setting the stage to change all of that. As far back as the 1990s, Singapore’s planners have pursued a strategy of decentralisation. We’ve created different regional hubs in Tampines, Jurong East,...