Lingang to focus on 3 zones in latest blueprint

The Lingang Special Area yesterday unveiled its latest development blueprint, focusing on housing, science and finance. 

In line with the plan, three zones of land will be developed in stages to provide sustainable spaces for urban life, commerce, travel, leisure and sports, scientific and technological innovation and modern services industries. 

About 5 square kilometers will be developed into a seaside community featuring high quality life and retail, leisure and tourism spaces. 

Another 10 square kilometers will form a top scientists’ community, a science and technology innovation community, a sci-tech headquarters area, an intelligent community and an international innovation cooperation zone. 

At 20 square kilometers, the largest of the three zones will focus on “overall planning, regional linkages, ecological livability and high-end agglomeration,” 

A future airport express station will be the center of the area, which will take advantage of cross-border finance in Lingang, itself part of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, to develop international cross-border trade, the digital economy and other modern service industries, and improve the allocation of global resources. 

“These areas will be a commercial and residential hub, and an international science and technology innovation collaborative community and modern service industry cluster,” said Wu Jie, deputy director of the Lingang Special Area Administrative Committee.

“They are also key development areas in the main urban area of Lingang in the near future. The first stage of development is about 4.46 square kilometers. 

“In line with the master plan, the gross domestic product of the 386 square kilometers of the special area will reach 350 billion yuan (US$50 billion) by 2025 while the permanent population will reach 1 million. 

“The average annual population growth will be 100,000.” The three areas will eventually house most of the newcomers. 

Several projects, including the extension to the S3 expressway and an interchange on the S2 Haigang Avenue have also started construction. 

Construction on the airport express to connect downtown Lingang and Pudong International Airport within 15 minutes will begin next year.