Yoma Land: Connecting Yangon's Communities
Updated: Jun 21, 2020
By Tessa Morton
Yangon is a rapidly developing city which provides extraordinary opportunities for investment in real estate and the development of products to suit differing community needs. Yoma Land’s current portfolio reinforces the diverse offer of real estate in Yangon, with predominately landed housing in the 264 hectare Pun Hlaing Golf Estate (population 2,000) Hlaing Thar Yar, a range of homes in Star City (population 4,000) a 198 hectare mixed use development at Thanlyin and a fully integrated mixed-use 220,000 sqm development at Yoma Central, currently under construction in the heart of downtown Yangon.
JICA’s Strategic Urban Development Plan 2018 outlines Yangon’s Future Vision as an “Attractive International Port & Logistics Hub – A City of Blue, Green and Gold”.
Source: SUDP 2018
Yangon’s population is growing fast and as urbanisation takes hold, so do problems with inadequate infrastructure provisions such as water, wastewater, power supply and solid waste disposal.
Photo: Construction of Storm Water Drain around Periphery of YCP
Yangon’s transportation system is under increasing pressure. The Comprehensive Study of the Urban Transport Development Program in Greater Yangon (YUTRA Update 2019) identifies possible project costs of around 35bn USD for upgrading Yangon’s integrated transportation system by 2035.
Source: YUTRA 2019
Urban mobility is essential in creating spatially inclusive and successful urban developments, allowing people to access jobs, services and city resources. Connectivity and accessibility are key components of sustainable living. Yoma Land supports residents’ healthy lifestyles by providing plenty of open spaces & community facilities, and by encouraging resilient transportation choices for example making it safer for residents to walk and cycle by providing effective traffic calming measures in all its developments.
Source: SPADPS 2020
Good accessibility to public transport is key, and Yoma Land’s locations link directly to numerous YBS bus routes, seamlessly connecting the entire city. Star City is currently designing a Transport Hub for the estate, which proposes to bring YBS services to within walking distance of its residents. Star City also operates a popular daily shuttle bus connecting to downtown Yangon; Pun Hlaing is planning to introduce a similar service. Rail travel provides a great journey option. Star City is currently connected to the rail network at Aung Thu Kha Station, and new suburban commuter lines are proposed to pass near Pun Hlaing & Star City in the future – providing access not just to bustling downtown’s Yangon Central Railway Station, but also to nearby employment hubs of Hlaing Thar Yar and Thilawa respectively.
Whilst the private vehicle should be the last choice in journey options for sustainability reasons, Yoma Land assets have robust road connections, which are constantly being improved by government initiatives such as new bridge construction or road layout and intersection upgrading, helping to reduce congestion and journey time. Car parking and security is provided at all Yoma Land locations. For those without a car but in search of self-drive options, Yoma Fleet Car Share provides a convenient service, with pick up and drop off points at many locations around the city.
Photo: Star City Shuttle Bus
Yoma Land is constantly exploring new transportation options. One such initiative is water transportation, which will connect Star City & Pun Hlaing via Pansodan & Kyee Myin Daing to increase connectivity by reducing door to door travel time via a reliable, convenient and desirable mode. Exciting journeys ahead for residents and visitors alike.
Photo: Pun Hlaing Ferry
About Tessa Morton
Ms Tessa Morton has 18 years’ town planning & development experience in UK, Indonesia & Myanmar. She has worked in Myanmar for the last 6 years, for Yoma Land on Yoma Central (as Environmental & Social Compliance and Approvals Manager) and Star City Thanlyin (as Real Estate Development Planner). Her work covers all disciplines related to masterplanning including urban design, transport, flooding, infrastructure, permitting and environmental & social compliance. She has also worked as City Planner for New Yangon Development Company.
Prior to Myanmar, Tessa worked as masterplanner for Lippo Karawaci managing large scale integrated development planning for projects across Indonesia. In the UK, Tessa worked at Jones Lang LaSalle, providing town planning advice to clients including BBC, Imperial College London, ExCeL Exhibition Centre and Wind Farm developers. Tessa started her career in telecommunications deployment, providing environmental & town planning support to deployment for Bechtel, Hutchison 3G & Vodafone.
Tessa is a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute. She studied in the UK, obtaining BSc (Joint Honours) Geography and Town & Country Planning, MSc Real Estate Management and MA Town Planning.