Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong mentioned in his National Day Rally speech on August 21 that the Ministry of National Development (MND) estimates that 150,000 residential units will be built on the current site of Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB).
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shared more details on the long-term redevelopment plans for Paya Lebar Air Base, which is scheduled to move to Changi East in the 2030s, freeing up about 800 hectares of land for the construction of a new-generation town.
In his speech, PM Lee also assured Singaporeans that there will be enough space for future generations and that the government will ensure housing remains affordable for Singaporeans.
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3.8km Runway to Become a Central Green Connector for the New Town
PM Lee stated that although the relocation of Paya Lebar will begin in the 2030s, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has already started exploring redevelopment concepts for the new town with the public and industry partners.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the air base’s current 3.8km-long runway is aligned with the direction of prevailing winds. This is to help planes avoid strong crosswinds when taking off and landing.
PM Lee said that the future new town could be designed to be parallel to the runway to facilitate natural ventilation.
“This way, residents might be able to use less air-conditioning,” the Prime Minister joked.
PM Lee said the runway could be transformed into a central spine running through the new town, becoming a green connector or community space that stretches from one end of the town to the other.
He said: “This will be a unique and attractive heritage feature for Paya Lebar.” Public and private housing can be built along both sides of this central spine.
“The Ministry of National Development estimates we can build around 150,000 residential units, which is roughly the total number of homes in Punggol and Sengkang today,” he said.
Paya Lebar will not only feature residential developments along the runway but also amenities, recreational spaces, and commercial and industrial projects nearby, “making it convenient for residents to work close to home.”
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Building Height Restrictions to be Lifted, Allowing Surrounding Towns to be Redeveloped
Besides repurposing the land currently occupied by Paya Lebar, the air base’s relocation brings other benefits.
“Building height restrictions in areas around Paya Lebar will be lifted,” PM Lee said, citing surrounding towns like Hougang, Marine Parade, and Punggol as examples. “This means we can redevelop these towns, add more amenities, and make better use of the space.”
This means we will be able to “completely reimagine” the face of eastern Singapore.
“No Need to Worry” About Lack of Space
PM Lee also noted that Singaporeans might worry about running out of space in the future, or not being able to buy or afford housing.
“No need to worry. We have done our studies and planning, and there will be enough space for future generations.”
The Prime Minister said that Singapore’s problem is not “finding space to build enough HDB flats, nor is it ensuring that Singaporeans can afford them.”
“Our problem is having enough babies to grow up and live in these HDB flats! […] Our island may be small, but it holds immense potential.”
PM Lee stated that Paya Lebar is just one example of how the government is reimagining and transforming Singapore.
He said that many other areas in Singapore will also see future development plans unfold, such as the Jurong Lake District, the Greater Southern Waterfront, and many other areas across the island.
“Every new district will be more livable, greener, and more sustainable than the last,” PM Lee said.
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