The Future of Lakeside: A Live-Work-Play Destination in the Making?

Singapore's urban landscape has transformed significantly over the past few decades, driven by careful long-term planning. One of the key initiatives was the idea of decentralisation, which aims to bring jobs, amenities and recreational spaces closer to homes. This has led to the subsequent development of “live-work-play” neighbourhoods, which have taken off in estates such as Punggol and one-north. 

The government plans to take this live-work-play concept to a larger scale via the development of the Jurong Lake District (JLD). The upcoming JLD is set to be the largest mixed-use business district outside of the Central Business District (CBD) and could provide around 100,000 new jobs when it is fully completed.

These plans are supported by over 20,000 new homes across the Jurong Lake District, which spans multiple housing estates surrounding Jurong Lake Gardens, such as Jurong East, Jurong West, Teban Gardens, and Lakeside.

Transformation of Lakeside

Lakeside sits in Jurong West, along the western bank of Jurong Lake. Compared with the busier eastern bank, where Jurong East and the Jurong Lake District form the West Region’s commercial centre, Lakeside retains a quieter, more residential character. The estate is shaped by a mix of public and private housing, nearby industrial activity in Jurong West, schools, transport links and everyday amenities.

Once associated with open water, low-lying land and swampland, Lakeside has gradually evolved into a mature heartland estate. Its location beside Jurong Lake also places it close to one of Singapore’s key long-term growth areas. As the Jurong Lake District continues to develop, Lakeside is well-positioned to benefit from stronger connectivity, greater amenities and the wider transformation of the West.

Work: Proximity to Diverse Employment Opportunities

While Lakeside itself is primarily residential, its proximity to major employment hubs helps to strengthen its work component within this framework. Jurong Lake District is set to become Singapore’s largest mixed-use business district outside the central area, potentially bringing in 100,000 new jobs into the West by 2040 to 2050. For Lakeside residents, this means having access to employment opportunities closer to home, potentially reducing commuting times and allowing for a better work-life balance. 

Another key aspect is the International Business Park (IBP), where it is the only Business Park located in the West. Having a diverse mix of multinational corporations, technology firms and regional offices, the business park offers even more job opportunities that are not far away from Lakeside. 

Nearer to Lakeside, several nearby areas are zoned for industrial use, supporting a wide range of manufacturing, logistics and engineering activities, providing another important source of employment for residents in the west. For those looking to venture in industries such as oil and gas, semiconductor and manufacturing, the accessibility to such employment opportunities further supports Lakeside's growing identity as a live-work-play neighbourhood.

Industrial Cluster Near Lakeside MRT

Play: A Hub for Leisure and Recreation

When it comes to the “play” aspect of the live-work-play environment, residents are well-supported by a diverse mix of lifestyle amenities, recreational spaces and dining options in the surrounding area.

For everyday needs, residents have access to nearby neighbourhood shopping centres such as Boon Lay Shopping Centre and Taman Jurong Shopping Centre, where they could get their daily necessities. For a wider range of shopping, dining and entertainment choices, Jurong Point is located one MRT stop away from Lakeside, providing an extensive selection of retail outlets, such as restaurants and lifestyle brands. In addition, Jurong East is home to major malls such as JEM, Westgate and IMM, giving Lakeside residents even more options for shopping and leisure activities.

Beyond retail offerings, Lakeside also benefits from its proximity to the recently completed park, Jurong Lake Gardens, which is located within walking distance from Lakeside MRT station. Consisting of lush greenery and scenic waterfront spaces, the park also supports a variety of recreational activities, including cycling, kayaking and skating, making it a popular destination for visitors of all ages.

Jurong Lake Gardens: A Destination for Nature and Recreation

The reopening of the Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden in 2024 has further enhanced Lakeside’s unique appeal, where residents can stroll through beautifully restored cultural architecture and enjoy serene lakeside views. For those with a more active lifestyle, the nearby ActiveSG provides residents with convenient access to facilities such as a gym, swimming pool and fitness programmes, catering to a wide range of sporting and wellness needs. 

Lastly, the New Science Centre, which is targeted to open by the end of 2027, is expected to feature family-friendly attractions such as an outdoor waterplay area and a stargazing observatory, creating more opportunities for learning and community engagement. The proximity of these recreational amenities further contributes to the “play” environment in Lakeside, allowing residents to enjoy a wide range of activities without having to travel far.

Several established hawker centres are located around the estate as well, including Boon Lay Food Village, 505 Jurong West Street 52 Hawker Centre and Taman Jurong Food Centre. These places offer a wide variety of food options around the area, all in close proximity to Lakeside MRT station. All in all, the number of activities and attractions Lakeside could potentially have has showed how Lakeside evolved beyond a pure residential neighbourhood, offering residents a diverse range of experiences closer to home.

Live: A Highly Liveable and Connected Community

Perhaps the most important factor in this concept is the liveability aspect. The Lakeside we know today has successfully transformed into a dense residential area, supported by housing, transportation and educational amenities. 

Lakeside’s close proximity to greenery provides residents with scenic views from their residential units, a unique factor that is not commonly found in other estates. As Jurong Lake District (JLD) continues to develop further, residents could benefit from an even greater range of amenities and transport enhancements, further improving accessibility and connectivity. 

Today, Lakeside is filled with a mix of public and private properties. Much of the surrounding HDB flats were completed during the 1990s to early 2010s, with the newest public housing project (BTO) launch in May 2022: Lakeside View. This BTO has a total of 1,016 units where it is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. 

The private residential market has also remained active. With recent new launches within Jurong that have recorded strong take-up rates, as shown in the table below. The strong performance suggests that buyers continue to see the west of Singapore as a relatively attractive region to live in.

The upcoming Lucerne Grand will also add on to the supply in the new sales in Jurong. Located right next to Lakeside MRT, it has a total of 570 residential units, where the development will be launching in early October 2026. 

Table 1: New Launches in Jurong and Lakeside

Beyond new launches, the resale market has also remained relatively stable.

Chart 1: Median Resale prices ($PSF) of Lakeside developments

Looking at the graph, most of the projects near Lakeside MRT station are seen with modest price growth, with only one project (Parc Vista) seen with a slight decline in median resale price from 2025 to 2026. Despite how some developments listed here are older, the overall increase in price suggests that demand for developments in this estate remains resilient, likely due to the convenience and connectivity Lakeside has to offer. 

For families, education is another important factor to consider. Around Lakeside, there are several primary and secondary schools located in proximity to Lakeside MRT station as shown in the table below.

Table 3: Schools located within proximity of Lakeside

Schools Within 1KM Radius of Lakeside MRT

Notably, Rulang Primary School is one of the well-known schools in the West, located less than 500m from Lakeside MRT station. The number of schools within the vicinity will provide families with a range of educational options without requiring long daily commutes.

Conclusion – Lakeside’s Role in Supporting Jurong’s Growth

All in all, these combinations highlight why Lakeside is more than a residential estate, but rather it manages to present the live-work-play concept in Lakeside. As Jurong Lake District continues to develop into Singapore’s largest mixed-use business district outside the CBD, Lakeside is well-positioned to serve as a supporting residential area that helps to complement the extension of the west area in Singapore. 

Lakeside offers residents a quieter living environment, enhanced by its proximity to nature attractions, while remaining well-connected to employment opportunities and transportation networks. 

Looking ahead, the tender for a White Site in Jurong was launched earlier in July and will close in November. If awarded, we can expect to see more integrated developments in Jurong, further strengthening the variety of amenities in the neighbourhood. 

Considering if your next move should be in the West? Speak to an ERA Trusted Adviser today to explore your options and take the next step of your property journey.