Why Tampines is the CBD of the East

One of Singapore’s first suburban regional centres, as identified and developed by the URA, Tampines has certainly come a long way.

Over the years, Tampines has attracted a wide enough range of businesses and facilities that it is more or less self-sufficient. It is home to major financial institutions and office buildings, not one but three shopping malls, and a host of upscale lifestyle offerings and amenities. Not only does it serve its residents, Tampines is also a crucial commercial hub for residents of the East.

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A business hub with big names

While it’s true that the Central Business District (CBD) remains the heart of the nation, Tampines pulses in tandem, matching the CBD beat for beat. The town is an important commercial hub, acting as a magnet for businesses big and small.

In recent years, a proliferation of large businesses and multi-national corporations (MNCs) has set up shop in Tampines Central. One of these is Japanese MNC Hitachi, who chose to set up their sprawling Singapore office here, focusing on information systems, research and development and its other business arms.

Other notable MNCs with a presence in Tampines include airline company Eva Air, financial software company Nucleus Software, battery manufacturer Varta Microbattery, and international architecture and design firm Wilson Associates.

Perhaps the best-represented sector here is banking and finance. Tampines Central abounds with offices and branches of big banks like OCBC, DBS, UOB, Citibank and Standard Chartered, as well as financial institutions like AIA and NTUC Income. Some of these were set up to complement to the institution’s main CBD branch, often to take care of the IT aspects of finance. OCBC’s Tampines branch even houses an innovation lab where staff develop cutting-edge new banking initiatives and financial technologies.

In addition, major government bodies like the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board and Housing and Development Board (HDB) also have offices in Tampines. With MNCs, financial institutions and government offices galore in Tampines, it means more job opportunities for residents and convenience for users of their services.

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Shopping and lifestyle paradise

To serve its huge population of residents and office workers, Tampines Central has not one but three major shopping malls – Tampines Mall, Tampines 1 and Century Square – in addition to scores of neighbourhood shops.

Far from your average heartland offerings, these malls cater to the needs of a more sophisticated crowd, and are therefore on par with malls in the city centre. On top of the usual mainstays such as a cinema, supermarkets and restaurants, you’ll also find high-street retailers such as Topshop, Levi’s, Uniqlo and H&M, as well as winter wear stores targeting fashionable, well-travelled Singaporeans.

When it comes to furnishing a new home or picking up daily necessities, there’s the bustling Tampines Retail Park, which comprises Ikea, Courts and a Giant hypermarket that’s open till late. A rarity in space-scarce Singapore, these warehouse-retailers prove that Tampines has a sizeable population of residents and visitors to sustain their growth.

Apart from retail, fitness is another sector that is thriving well in Tampines. Brand-name chains True Fitness and Fitness First have chosen to set up outposts in the NTUC Income and CPF buildings respectively, catering to Tampines’ population of office workers with substantial disposable incomes.

Diverse educational experiences

As with most other suburban towns, Tampines is home to schools for residents who choose to raise a family here. But Tampines stands out from the rest thanks to its diverse range of educational offerings.

Apart from schools like St Hilda’s Primary & Secondary School, Poi Ching School and Tampines JC, Tampines also has international schools like United World College of South East Asia and the British Council Pre-School. In the vicinity are tertiary institutions Temasek Polytechnic and Singapore’s fourth university, Singapore University of Technology & Design.

Transportation upgrades

Tampines is currently well served by a system of roads and highways such as the Tampines Expressway and Pan Island Expressway, which means added convenience and speed. By car, it takes only about 20 minutes to get to the CBD.

Getting to business and industrial hubs around the East is even quicker – Changi Airport and Changi Business Park are each only a mere 10 minutes’ drive away. This connectivity would prove an even bigger draw for residents in the near future as more and more job opportunities come up in both places, particularly with the arrival of the airport’s sprawling new Terminal 5.

With the Downtown Line and a new Integrated Transport Hub in the works, Tampines is set to be even more well-connected than it is now. When the former is completed, Tampines West and Tampines East MRT stations will provide increased conveniences to residents who are now only served by buses. Tampines MRT station will also become an integrated interchange station and will provide easy access to offices and businesses at the town centre.

The new town hub and more exciting developments

In the coming years, there will be even more to look forward to in Tampines.

Tampines will soon be home to Singapore’s first-ever integrated community hub, Our Tampines Hub, a sporting and lifestyle centre complete with a FIFA-approved football field, six swimming pools, a 20-court badminton hall, a massive 800-seat hawker centre, a new regional library, as well as 24-hour retail shops and countless other amenities. It will be a one-stop meeting point for residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Property developers have also started to address the more upscale lifestyle of Tampines residents and workers with premium developments like MCC Land’s The Santorini, overlooking the scenic Tampines Quarry in Tampines West. Inspired by the Mediterranean, The Santorini promises a much-needed respite from the urban bustle of Tampines, creating a sanctuary and making the most out of Tampines’ abundant natural attractions.

With so many recent and upcoming developments happening in Tampines, it’s clear that the town still has plenty of potential to grow into a premium location in the East.

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