KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Group plans to turn Sunway City Ipoh into the biggest "R&R" for travellers on the North South Expressway (NSE).
This was through an expansion that was expected to generate RM4 billion in gross development value (GDV) over 10-15 years, according to Sunway City Ipoh executive director Wong Wan Wooi.
The expansion of Sunway City Ipoh will include a new medical centre, a shopping mall that will be the largest in the city and an education campus.
Sunway City Ipoh is already home to two world-class resorts namely The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat and Lost World of Tambun theme park, hotel and spa.
"To date, Sunway City Ipoh is worth RM2 billion in GDV with another RM4 billion underway for the next 10-15 years," said Wong, who disclosed the expansion plan at a private buyer's appreciation night recently at Sunway Onsen Suites in Ipoh.
He said the company was leveraging on the bustling NSE traffic which could reach four million vehicles during peak season.
"As a result of the improved connectivity, we are already getting a lot of interest from several notable F&B operators, including more drive-thru F&B outlets in addition to the current McDonald's and Starbucks here (at Sunway Cirty Ipoh)," he added.
Wong said an eight-storey Sunway Medical Centre Ipoh is being built on 1.36 hectares with 260 beds and eight operating theatres to be ready and in operation by the first quarter (Q1) of 2024.
The first phase will include 187 beds while the second phase will have 73 beds with a gross floor area (GFA) of 448,000 square feet (sqft) and more than 650 car park bays.
The development of Ipoh's largest shopping mall will span more than one million sqft in gross floor area with more than 2,000 car parks.
"Within the plan, Sunway City Ipoh will also be building an education campus across four acres of land," he said.
Wong said the group would also be launching a flexi-terrace development aligned to the Sunway Design and Development Architecture.
"The gated and guarded development will feature homes with sizes ranging from 1,300 sqft to 1,900 sqft which will be launched in 2023."
Meanwhile, Sunway is collaborating with Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh to upgrade Jalan Tambun from the NSE exit until the Taman Perpaduan Interchange.
Costing about RM16 million, the group is contributing RM8 million towards the project which is expected to be completed by mid-2023.
The upgrade will significantly reduce time on the road, with the removal of seven traffic lights which will be replaced with u-turns.