JTC Corporation is going ahead with its expansion plans for a business park in Jurong, due to strong demand and in anticipation of an economic upturn.

It will develop the land along the southern boundary of its International Business Park (IBP), which will add 5ha of land and about 125,000 sq m - about 19 football fields - of business space.

The business park - started in 1992 and the first of its kind in Singapore - is already home to several technology-based companies, including Acer, Creative Technology, Dell and M+W Zander. These businesses - and more - occupy 21 plots of land totalling about 25ha.

'It is now a mature, thriving business hub for knowledge- based activities,' said JTC in a statement yesterday. 'There is a strong demand for business- park space, in particular, space at IBP.'

Despite the economic downturn, expansion of the business park will go ahead as planned.

Said JTC: 'Given IBP's proximity to the industrial estates in the west, and its being right next to a major commercial hub at Jurong Gateway, IBP remains an attractive location for many industrialists to site their headquarter operations.

'JTC envisages that this strong demand for business- park space in the IBP will continue into the next economic upturn.'

The business park is one of many developments under the Jurong Lake District blueprint, a new growth area outside the city centre unveiled in April as part of the Master Plan 2008.

The district blueprint aims to decentralise commercial and leisure activities from the central area to reduce commuting, cater to businesses, and create job opportunities closer to homes.

To support the new developments in the district, a spinal road will be built, and the Jurong East MRT Interchange will be expanded. The bus interchange will also be redeveloped.

The residential catchments in the surrounding estates, such as Teban Gardens and Pandan Gardens, will be rejuvenated to provide waterfront housing.

Roads in the district's other estates - Faber Terrace and Faber Hills - will be improved. This will, among other things, allow for more housing fronting Sungei Ulu Pandan to be built in future to support the growth of the Jurong Lake District.

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