For property developer Golden Hope Development Sdn Bhd, its latest project the 2,800-acre Kota Seriemas is going to be a benchmark development for the company.

"We envision that Kota Seriemas will be a model catered to the future needs of society. As a long-term player, property development to us is not just a commercial venture. We also care about the society that we are going to build," Golden Hope Development general manager Azmar Talib said.

"This vision was proven to be accepted by the market with all units offered at the first launch sold," he added.

Golden Hope Development is a subsidiary of public-listed Golden Hope Plantation Bhd. Backed by a strong parent company, the developer is actively involved in developing the group's vast landbank.

Azmar said with Kota Seriemas, Golden Hope Development is going back to basics and addressing the present and future needs of its customers, the families and businesses that will purchase property there.

For example, acknowledging that environmental protection and greenery are gaining priority among consumers, Kota Seriemas has planned more open spaces and parks than required under existing regulations.

Azmar said, Kota Seriemas is a township built on the importance of a quality lifestyle for work, play, relaxation and business.

"Well planned green links make this a wonderful garden city. A string of lakes, parks, jogging and cycling tracks create a healthy living environment for you to enjoy.

"We have also paid attention to other finer elements of the project, including designs for schools, surau, nurseries and kindergartens so as to develop an environment that the residents will identify with," Azmar added.

Kota Seriemas provides facilities for all ages, from the infant to the elderly.
Blending nature's art with the state-of-the-art, Kota Seriemas will please the senses with distinctive features such as tree-lined boulevards, parks and gardens, plenty of palms for a tropical setting, a safe internal road system, pedestrian-friendly footpaths, underground fibre optic and electrical cabling, colour coding for utility sites, and clear direction signs.

Azmar said Kota Seriemas also offers different theme residential concepts to cater to the different tastes of today's houseowners. There are Grow Homes, Golden Homes, Lake View Homes, Ranch Homes and Valley Homes.

"Grow Homes is a unique concept which gives you the flexibility to add on to your house as your family and income grow. For the price of a terrace house, you can now own a bungalow which you can expand later, easily and cost-efficiently, when the need arises," he said.

Azmar said Kota Seriemas has several jewels in its crown. First, is the Garden Office Park and International Business Park.

Set within a landscape of lush greenery, the parks will provide a conducive and productive working environment for small and medium-sized businesses. In fact, Permodalan Nasional Bhd has purchased a 60-acre piece of land for their corporate park.

"The buyer can opt to be a single tenant, whereby he can link his garden office to residences," he said, adding that nearby will be supporting facilities such as sports complex, school, clubhouse and guesthouse.

The International Business Park, meanwhile, is a commercial and business office centre in the park environment. It caters for the needs of businesses shifting from the saturated city centre to the suburbs for better lifestyle, more economical and greater efficiency.

The park gets its name from the buildings which will reflect the architectural designs and cultures of the world.

"Backroom operations, such as data and information keeping, need not be in Kuala Lumpur where space is expensive. They can relocate to Kota Seriemas and still communicate with their head offices through state-of-the-art telecommunication facilities," Azmar said.

He said the park will have either a multi-tenant concept with subdivided plots sharing the garden area, or a single tenanted concept where office complexes are owned by one owner and office spaces leased to others.

Another attraction of Kota Seriemas is its Shoppers Paradise, integrating shopping with recreational activity. This will cater to the changes of community behaviour, which treat shopping as recreational and "getting away" from the hustle and bustle of the city.

"We will have a more peaceful suburban shopping environment, where accessibility and parking is not a problem. The complexes will integrate building and nature and allow shopping to run simultaneously with outdoor recreational activities such as jogging, bicycling, camping and family gatherings," Azmar said.

A third jewel in Kota Seriemas is Golden Homes, specially designed resort-like housing for senior citizens. It is a self-contained development with landed strata housing and support facilities such as restaurant, convenience store, day-care centre, clinic, laundry, park and recreational facility.

Internal transportation will be by means of environment-friendly vehicles such as electrical buggy.

Azmar also pointed out that Kota Seriemas is surrounded by famous neighbours. It is 15km from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, 5km from Sepang F1 Circuit, 20km from Cyberjaya and Putrajaya, and 10km from the North-South Expressway's Nilai Interchange. It is also directly linked to the KLIA via KLIA-Kota Seriemas Dedicated Highway, and only 20km from Seremban.

Contractors have already started work on the first phase of the project. Building plans have been approved for the next phase, which Golden Hope plans to launch soon, Azmar said.

Precinct I, which comprises KLIA housing, is already completed and occupied. The mosque will be completed next month. There are also primary and secondary schools for the resident's children.

He said Golden Hope Development also provides business opportunities for those interested to participate in the project. The company welcomes ideas and activities that can add more value to the development.

For example, there may be some consultants, contractors, developers or investors who are more specialised in projects similar to the Golden Homes or International Business Park.

"We are open to business proposals for these people to partake in our projects, including purchase of land and joint ventures."

He said companies keen to take advantage of these opportunities should preferably have some expertise, and established track record or are capable of creating a market for the particular product.