About SIP

PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTE

The Institute's main objectives are as follows:

1. Dedicate to the advancement of urban planning and to promote planning practice as a profession and encourage planning consultancy work in both the public and private sectors.
   
   
2. Promote the mutual exchange of ideas and views on planning theory and practice.
   
   
3. Act as an informal professional certification body in admitting members with appropriate qualification and experience into the Institute.
   
   
4. Promote and foster continuing education by holding international conventions, study tours, seminars and publications.
   
   
5. Contribute expert opinions on urban & regional planning, development guide plans and issues to the government decision makers.
   
   
6. Heighten public awareness of the important services provided by town planners in both the private and public sectors as well as in the regional and international arena.
   
   
7. Ensure high standards of ethics in planning practice through its code of conduct and disciplinary provisions.
   
   
8. Promotion of planning consultancy work overseas.
   

ACHIEVEMENT AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

The greatest achievement of the Institute is the combined effort of its members, who have played their part in surmounting severe land and resource constraints to transform Singapore into a modern and gracious city, internationally recognized as an example of a city state with good urban planning.

The SIP will continue to nurture and advance the planning profession, to disseminate new planning ideas and concepts to enable its members to respond to the challenges of creating a City of Excellence for our nation and continue to share our 'expertise' in the regional and international arena.

History

The Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP), registered in April 1971, is a professional body for town planners in Singapore. The Institute is dedicated to the advancement of urban planning and to promote planning practice as a profession. The specific objectives of the Institute are to promote and contribute towards advancement of urban planning and planning practice as a profession and encourage planning consultancy work in both the public and private sectors.

For the last 35 years, the Institute has maintained an active part in supporting the development of the town planning profession in Singapore. It has played a pivotal role in the providing feedback to the planning authorities in Singapore and made representation on committees and panels set up by the former Singapore Planning Department and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore.

The Institute was represented in the making/review of the Singapore Concept Plan 2001, Master Plan 2003 and Green Plan 2012 as well as dialogues with the relevant government agencies to promote urban planning excellence in Singapore.

Over the years the Institute's membership has grew steadily. As at December 2005, the Institute has a total of 102 members, comprising 21 Fellows, 54 Full Members, 26 Affiliates and 1 Student. Majority of our members are trained overseas. Formal academic training in urban planning is not available in Singapore at the moment. Aspiring planners have to attend overseas universities to pursue either a 4 year undergraduate programme, or a 1 to 2 years graduate urban planning course.

A large number of the Institute’s Fellows and Members are currently employed by Government and Statutory bodies such as Urban Redevelopment Authority, Housing & Development Board, National Parks Boards and Jurong Town Corporation. They largely undertake strategic planning studies, preparing master plans and executing regulatory and enforcement functions regularly.

Others are employed in the universities, property development and planning consultancy companies such as SURBANA, CPG consultants, Jurong Consultants. Yet others, especially those who are architect/planners are operating their own professional offices. They largely undertake physical planning projects, urban design and strategic planning studies.