URA launches residential sites at Dorset Road, Upper Thomson Road, Telok Blangah Road
The parcel area at Dorset Road can potentially yield around 425 residential units, while the others at Upper Thomson Road (Parcel A) and Telok Blangah Road can potentially yield about 595 and 745 of the same type of units respectively.
All three sites form part of the 5,030 residential units to be released via the confirmed list of the GLS programme for H1 2025.
The tender for the Dorset Road site will close at 12pm on Oct 9. As for the Upper Thomson Road (Parcel A) and Telok Blangah Road sites, their tenders will close at the same time on Oct 23 and Nov 4.
According to a statement by URA on Tuesday, 4,725 private residential units will be launched via the H2 2025 confirmed list, bringing the total confirmed list supply for 2025 to close to 10,000 units.
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Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
The past and future of Choa Bungalow, a ‘last reminder' of Marine Parade's former shoreline
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE - Nestled between the soaring condominiums, ever-evolving malls and sleek, new Thomson-East Coast MRT line in Marine Parade lies a relic of a bygone era – a weathered bungalow that once stood just 5m from the sea. Little remains of the seafront life that once defined the area, swept away by land reclamation efforts from the 1960s to the 1980s. The peculiar presence of the property, known as the Choa Bungalow or Sea Breeze Lodge, in a neighbourhood characterised by rapid development, has not gone unnoticed. Fringe interest has resurfaced of late, with curious netizens taking to heritage groups on social media to discuss its history. On May 29, Facebook user Stanley Cheah asked on the Heritage SG Memories page if anyone had any personal experiences with the Choa family during their time at the villa. It sparked a lively discussion as people shared various memories – from those who visited it as children during Chinese New Year, to those who admired it from afar for years. In July 2024, popular local artist Lee Xin Li even revived the villa in a nostalgic illustration, and a Wikipedia page on the house emerged soon after. Its future, however, is still unclear, although real estate and heritage experts called for a proper and careful decision on the historic building, which can become an asset to Singapore's cultural legacy. Located at 37 Marine Parade Road, the one-storey bungalow was built in 1898 by influential tin businessman Choa Kim Keat, who died in 1907 and whom Kim Keat Road in Balestier is named after. In 2009, the building was gazetted for conservation as part of the larger Katong and Joo Chiat conservation area, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority, adding that this was also done 'in recognition of its interesting hybrid architecture' typical of colonial-era bungalows. Two years later, the 47,400 sq ft property – comprising the conserved bungalow and a separate three-storey block – was acquired by Far East Organization for $104 million. As at 2025, the company said it retains ownership of the site and has no immediate plans for its development. The three-storey block, which was built to house British officers after World War II and was not conserved, has since been demolished, and in its place is a temporary sales gallery. Because of the bungalow's status as a conserved building, any development of it, including restoration or repair works, must be approved by URA. Far East added that the bungalow receives regular maintenance to preserve its condition, though it appeared visibly worn during recent visits by ST. Because of the bungalow's status as a conserved building, any development of it, including restoration or repair works, must be approved by URA. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI 'Untouched' for 14 years In a country where untouched land is a rare sight, curiosity surrounding the Choa Bungalow's lack of development and restoration have naturally risen. Real estate and urban studies experts told ST that Far East may be taking an approach of 'land banking', which is the process of buying land and holding it without immediate development, and instead waiting for the right time to build or sell. Said Realion chief researcher and strategist Christine Sun: 'Some (developers) may allow specific sites or projects to be undeveloped or vacant or to stagger their development works, especially if they have sufficient landbank, cashflow or holding power.' Developers may also hold land to wait for surrounding areas to mature before launching a project, or to accumulate neighbouring parcels in order to build larger-scale developments, said Professor Joseph Ooi, co-director of the Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies at the National University of Singapore. Checks by ST showed that Far East also owns the former Paramount Hotel, which borders the Choa Bungalow and has been renamed Katong Village Hotel. Dr Victor Choa – Mr Choa Kim Keat's great-grandson – said that his family decided to let go of the property in 2011 as it was too big, and were comforted by the fact that it had already been conferred conservation status. 'Marine Parade... the whole stretch was very old. It's all old bungalows. One by one they were gone and ours was the last house standing. The rest were all demolished. We are lucky they conserved it,' he said. Dr Choa holds fond memories of the bungalow, which still carries his father's name, Eric Choa, etched on a gatepost. The elder Choa was a well-known lawyer who had lived in the house until his death in 2009 at 93. The bungalow which still carries the name of Eric Choa etched on a gatepost. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI 'That beach was very popular. A lot of courting couples would go there to jalan-jalan (stroll), and it was a good memory. It was a very quiet place and people came to see the seaside,' the 84-year-old Dr Choa said. He recalled that much of his childhood was spent swimming and canoeing with friends who came for weekend sleepovers – including notable Singaporeans such as former prime minister Goh Chok Tong and former Ayer Rajah MP and Progress Singapore Party founder Tan Cheng Bock. In 2020, Mr Goh penned a Facebook post about his 'nostalgic return' to the house after a lunch there hosted by Far East chief executive Phillip Ng. The Marine Parade area, said heritage blogger and author Jerome Lim, by and large was an exclusive one because of its proximity to the sea. 'You needed to be someone of status to own a home there,' he said, adding that the neighbourhood was relatively out of town and that frequent travel in and out was not affordable for most who worked in the city. Preserving a cultural legacy If properly planned and developed, Professor Qian Wenlan, Ng Teng Fong Chair Professor in Real Estate at the NUS Business School, believes the Choa Bungalow will contribute meaningfully in the placemaking of Marine Parade. 'However, we need to be mindful that any proposed repurposing of the bungalow ought to also make a compelling business case for the current landowner.' The restoration of the Choa Bungalow can help preserve Singapore's cultural legacy amid rapid urbanisation. 'Architecture can tell us about the history of the place, the memory of the people,' Prof Ooi said, adding that cultural and heritage building can add colour to the cityscape. Whatever the outcome, Mr Lim hopes the Choa Bungalow will ultimately be accessible to the public, so its story as a 'shining example of what life was like along the East Coast' is not lost. 'It's really a marker of the past, of what that whole area was like... maybe one of the last reminders of that,' he said.
CNA
30-07-2025
- CNA
Bukit Panjang LRT to close on two Sundays to facilitate testing of new signalling system
SINGAPORE: The Bukit Panjang Light Rail Transit (LRT) will be closed on Aug 31 and Sep 21 to facilitate testing of its new signalling system, as part of the line's ongoing renewal programme. The new system will enable "better control of train speeds, which will allow commuters to enjoy smoother and more reliable rides", said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and operator SMRT Trains in a joint release. During the closures, a shuttle bus service - LRT Shuttle B - will be provided at a frequency of 5 to 15 minutes. The usual bus fares will apply, an LTA spokesperson told CNA. The new system, which has been in the works since 2022, is a "communications-based train control" system that is an upgrade from the current one and is also similar to those used on Mass Rapid Transit lines, added the authorities. The Bukit Panjang LRT closure is required to "provide a longer period for continuous testing of the new signalling system simulating actual operating conditions", said the authorities. The testing will ensure the new signalling system can be properly integrated with the new upgraded Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) that have been deployed for passenger service under the line's renewal programme. Under the programme, 14 of 19 new third-generation LRVs have been deployed for use, while 11 of the 13 second-generation LRVs have also been upgraded and deployed, said the authorities. The remaining new third-generation LRVs and upgraded second-generation LRVs, as well as the completion of the new signalling works, are set to be rolled out by end-2025. Upgrades to the operations control centre - where staff work to ensure smooth operation of train services - and power rail replacement activities are also ongoing and are expected to be completed by end-2026. In addition, the entire power supply system for the Bukit Panjang LRT has been fully upgraded with higher capacity, including dedicated power supply monitoring and control systems, said the authorities. LIFT UPGRADING WORKS LTA will also upgrade the lifts at all Bukit Panjang LRT stations, with works to start from Aug 11 and set to complete by March 2027. The lifts will all be replaced, said the authorities, adding that they have been in operation since the beginning of the Bukit Panjang LRT service. The new lifts are set to be more wheelchair user-friendly, with tilted floor indicators for better visibility, rear wall mirrors, and operating panels along the side of the lift car. They will also have bigger lift buttons that are illuminated to improve visibility, as well as energy-saving features including energy efficient motors. Information on the lift upgrading schedule, travel alternatives and any latest updates will be available on posters and banners at all Bukit Panjang LRT stations. The Bukit Panjang LRT system is an 8km line connecting residential estates within Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang to the North-South and Downtown Lines. It was earlier hit with two service disruptions this month, which SMRT attributed to a fault in a newly installed system which monitors and controls power distribution.
Straits Times
30-07-2025
- Straits Times
Lower-income NTUC union members can get up to $120 in e-vouchers
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The e-vouchers can be redeemed at participating merchants, including Fairprice supermarkets, Unity pharmacies and Kopitiam food courts. SINGAPORE - Lower-income union members can apply for up to $120 in e-vouchers that will help them with their daily expenses, said NTUC. The $1.2 million initiative, also known as the 2025 NTUC Care (U Stretch) Programme, is part of efforts to help working families amid growing cost pressures. NTUC, in a statement on July 30, said: 'With $1.2 million in funding, the 2025 programme offers practical relief for union members, allowing them to stretch their dollar further in areas such as groceries, healthcare and daily meals'. It added: 'With headline inflation dipping below 1 per cent, everyday expenses like food, utilities, petrol and rent remain uncomfortably high for many lower-income families,' NTUC added. Union members can use their e-vouchers at participating merchants, including FairPrice supermarkets, Unity pharmacies and Kopitiam foodcourts. The e-vouchers, which will be disbursed in denominations of $1, $2, $5 and $10, are redeemable under the RedeemSG digital voucher system. They will be valid for use until Dec 31, 2025. To qualify for the programme, applicants must be NTUC members with at least six continuous months of membership as at their application date, with no outstanding membership payments due. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore's Q2 total employment rises, but infocomm and professional services sectors see more job cuts Singapore Fewer than 1 in 5 people noticed suspicious items during MHA's social experiments Singapore Migrant workers who gave kickbacks to renew work passes were conservancy workers at AMK Town Council Business Seatrium to pay $168m to Brazilian authorities, $73m to Singapore authorities to settle corruption case Asia Powerful 8.8-magnitude quake in Russia's far east causes tsunami; Japan, Hawaii order evacuations Singapore Man charged with having 320 vape pods and over 70 vapes meant for sale in car at Bugis mall Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made Union members without family members living in the same household are eligible for $60 in e-vouchers if their personal gross monthly income does not exceed $1,650, including overtime pay and allowances. Those with family members living in the same household will be eligible for $120 in e-vouchers if their gross monthly household income does not exceed $3,800. Otherwise, their per capita income should be $950 or below. Applications of the programme will be open from noon on July 30 till 4pm on Sept 3.
