HDB cuts 1,200 planned homes, retains more greenery at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks after public feedback

Under the revised plans, 4,000 HDB flats would be built at Maju Forest and 7,000 homes at Gillman Barracks, of which about 5,500 will be public housing.

Maju Forest, flanked by a landed estate and HDB flats, Jul 16, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

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SINGAPORE: Housing plans for Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks have been revised to cut about 1,200 homes and retain more greenery following public feedback, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said on Wednesday (Oct 28).

The revised plans are expected to yield about 11,000 homes across both sites over the next decade – about 4,000 public housing units at Maju Forest and 7,000 homes at Gillman Barracks, of which about 5,500 will be public housing.

This would mean about 400 fewer flats at Maju Forest and about 800 fewer units at Gillman Barracks when compared with initial plans, said Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan.

Under the revised plans, the area retained as greenery at Maju Forest will increase from around 8ha to about 10ha.

This accounts for about 45 per cent of the 23ha site, up from about 35 per cent under the original plans.

Retaining more greenery in the southern part of the site will create a wider and more contiguous green area, strengthening ecological connectivity within the site and along the Clementi Nature Corridor, HDB said in a press release.

At Gillman Barracks, the area set aside for greenery will increase from around 8ha to about 12ha. This is about 60 per cent of the 20ha of existing greenery, up from about 40 per cent under the original plans.

"More of the existing forest around the hillock will be retained, providing a greener frontage towards Telok Blangah Street 31, while the north-south ecological corridor along Lock Road and Malan Road will be widened," HDB said in its press release.

"These refinements will enhance the ecological connectivity within the Southern Ridges, as well as towards Berlayar Creek and Labrador Nature Reserve."

HDB said the housing figures are estimates based on broad planning assumptions and will need to be further assessed during the detailed design stage.

Further details, including the housing mix and launch dates, will be announced when ready.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Tan said the government may build taller blocks at the sites.

"So again, it goes down to a very important principle, and that is, we are committed to preserving as much as possible, but at the same time we need to be able to provide homes that are accessible and affordable to Singaporeans who are looking for homes in choice areas, in central areas, areas where they are close to their families," he added.

The revised plans come after public outcry following the announcement of the proposed developments on Jul 10.

Under the initial plans, about 15ha of Maju Forest at Sunset Way and at least 10ha of forest at Gillman Barracks could have been cleared for housing developments.

Nature groups called for stronger environmental safeguards, while residents told CNA they were worried about overdevelopment and the impact of deforestation.

Formal consultations closed on Aug 6. About a week later, Mr Tan said the government would retain more greenery than originally planned at both sites following public feedback.

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HOW THE DECISIONS WERE MADE

HDB said that the review was guided by environmental studies for both sites as well as feedback gathered through public consultations and engagement sessions.

It added that agencies weighed the ecological importance of keeping more greenery against housing needs and other land use considerations, while taking into account the conditions at each site.

"The additional greenery areas were identified for retention as they can strengthen the long-term viability of the retained habitats and maintain ecological connectivity," said HDB.

"To enhance nature conservation at these sites, the National Parks Board (NParks) will safeguard a significant portion of the greenery as nature parks."

HDB received about 7,200 feedback submissions for Maju Forest and 2,300 for Gillman Barracks during the public consultation period from Jul 10 to Aug 6.

In addition, authorities engaged about 1,000 stakeholders, including nature groups, youths, academics, planning and built-environment professionals and other members of the public.

Residents living around the sites were also consulted in sessions organised by grassroots advisers, with support from the agencies.

HDB said it received a "wide range" of feedback reflecting different perspectives on the development plans for both sites.

These concerns included the loss of habitat and biodiversity, the impact on ecological connectivity and the wider ecosystem services provided by the forests.

Questions were raised about whether more housing was required at the two sites, and suggestions were made to explore other brownfield sites, intensify existing developed areas or reduce the proposed development footprints.

For Gillman Barracks, many respondents highlighted its heritage, cultural and community value. Some also recognised the need for more homes in both areas so families can live closer to one another, said HDB.

"Planning for national needs, including housing, nature and heritage, requires difficult but necessary trade-offs. As part of the planning process, agencies have reviewed vacant and brownfield sites in the surrounding areas, including the locations suggested by members of the public and residents," added HDB.

"Each site was assessed based on its current and future planned uses, when it could be made available for redevelopment, and whether it could meet housing needs within the required timeframe."

The agency said some sites were already planned for housing, while others were still needed for existing uses or would not be available within the timeframe in which homes are needed.

"They form part of the broader housing pipeline together with Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks to meet housing demand from the 2030s," HDB said.

Examples of sites reviewed as part of development studies

Maju Forest and surrounding areas

Site planned for or being developed for residential use:

Former temporary bus facility and vacated Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) site at Ghim Moh

Former Raffles Junior College Campus at Mount Sinai

Currently occupied but safeguarded for residential use:

Site at Albert Winsemius Lane

Worksite at former Blocks 321 to 323 Clementi Avenue 5

Protective Security Command site

Worksite next to Clementi Crescent

SkyPark Arena @ Holland

HHOM @ Ulu Pandan hostel

Still required or safeguarded for existing or other uses:

Singapore Institute of Management and Singapore University of Social Sciences

Vacant site zoned "educational institution" next to Nan Hua High School

Gillman Barracks and surrounding areas

Depot Lane industrial estate

Keppel Distripark, Keppel Terminal, Tanjong Pagar Terminal (part of Greater Southern Waterfront)

Delta Circus Fringe car park and adjacent state land

Alexandra Park (Existing residential estate)

Former Central Manpower Base site

Pasir Panjang Distripark and surrounding parcels

Alexandra Village industrial estate

Shelton College International

Developed areas along Mount Faber Foothills (including Seah Im Food Centre)

Henderson Industrial Park

The authority added that housing demand in recent years remains strong as larger cohorts of Singaporeans born in the late 1980s and 1990s – when fertility rates were higher – are now reaching the age of buying their own flats.

"Housing demand is also driven by decreasing household sizes, as more couples, singles and seniors choose to have their own homes instead of staying with their extended families," HDB said.

Last year, HDB received about 70,000 applications across three Build-to-Order (BTO) exercises for 19,723 flats.

HDB said agencies sought to "strike the balance between developing the sites as sensitively as possible" while meeting Singaporeans' housing needs.

CHANGES TO BOTH SITES

At Maju Forest, retaining a larger contiguous green area will provide a corridor for wildlife movement, including for species of conservation significance such as the straw-headed bulbul and Sunda pangolin, while preserving more plant species of conservation significance.

The enlarged proposed retained area will be safeguarded as a new nature park, with opportunities for the community to participate in habitat enhancement efforts.

The future estate will also integrate nature into its landscaping, and a new nature way along Brookvale Drive will feature multi-tiered planting that mimics the natural forest structure.

HDB said the existing Clementi Neighbourhood Park will continue to serve residents alongside new community and commercial facilities within the future estate.

"When the old Jurong Line nature trail is fully completed, residents will have more options for nature-based recreation within the wider Clementi Nature Corridor, which links the rail corridor to Jurong Lake Gardens," HDB said.

A view of Block 9 at Gillman Barracks taken on March 7, 2024. (Photo: TODAY/Ili Mansor)

At Gillman Barracks, the larger green area will provide a wider buffer around the existing forest and further enhance the east-west ecological connection along the Southern Ridges, as well as the north-south ecological connection towards Berlayar Creek and Labrador Nature Reserve.

The green areas will be incorporated into the upcoming Alexandra Nature Park, expanding the greenery within the Labrador Nature Park Network.

NParks will enhance the round island route along Alexandra Road to improve north-south connectivity between the Rail Corridor and the Labrador Nature Park network.

Nature ways along Alexandra Road and Telok Blangah Road will also be enhanced, while a new nature way along Telok Blangah Street 31 will feature multi-tiered greenery to facilitate the movement of animals such as butterflies and birds through the area.

The revised plans will retain the same 25 buildings identified for retention under initial plans, which were those assessed to be of "exceptional" and "high" heritage significance.

These buildings will be retained in clusters along Preston Road, Lock Road and Malan Road, and can be repurposed for commercial uses and amenities.

Agencies are also studying the possibility of retaining non-building artefacts, such as the military insignias of the Middlesex and Loyal Regiments.

HDB said the developments will take several years to complete, as infrastructure and site preparation works must be carried out before homes and supporting amenities can be built.

Before development works begin in the vegetated areas at both sites, an environmental management and monitoring plan will be put in place to outline measures to minimise the environmental impact of the works and protect the greenery and ecological features identified for retention.

The authorities may also enter the sites to carry out further studies, such as soil investigation works.

Land preparation works at Maju Forest are expected to begin from the first half of 2028, with public access to the site restricted from then.

At Gillman Barracks, site works are expected to start from the second half of 2027, starting with the demolition of buildings. Land preparation works are expected to begin in 2029.

Environmental mitigation and monitoring measures will continue as the developments are implemented.

Future housing developments will incorporate lush plantings, while environmental modelling will be used to optimise airflow around HDB blocks.

"These climate-friendly designs and extensive precinct greenery, together with cool paint and materials that reduce heat absorption, will enhance thermal comfort for residents and climate resilience of the future housing estate," said HDB.

It added that through long-term planning, the government will continue to conserve and restore important habitats, strengthen ecological connectivity across the island and expand Singapore's network of parks, nature areas, waterways and nature corridors.

"We will also continue to integrate nature into our urban environment, so that our city remains both liveable and sustainable for current and future generations," said HDB.

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根据修订后的计划，将在马朱森林建造 4,000 套组屋，在吉尔曼军营建造 7,000 套住房，其中约 5,500 套将是公共住房。

2026年7月16日，马朱森林，两侧是独立式住宅区和组屋。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：建屋发展局（HDB）周三（10月28日）表示，根据公众反馈，马朱森林和吉尔曼军营的房屋规划已进行修改，将减少约1200套房屋，并保留更多绿地。

修订后的计划预计将在未来十年内在这两个地点建成约 11,000 套住房——马朱森林约 4,000 套公共住房，吉尔曼兵营约 7,000 套住房，其中约 5,500 套将是公共住房。

国家发展部政务部长陈庆炎表示，这意味着与最初的计划相比，马朱森林将减少约 400 套公寓，吉尔曼军营将减少约 800 套公寓。

根据修订后的计划，马朱森林保留的绿地面积将从约 8 公顷增加到约 10 公顷。

这约占该 23 公顷场地面积的 45%，高于原计划的约 35%。

建屋发展局在一份新闻稿中表示，在场地南部保留更多绿地将创造更广阔、更连贯的绿地，加强场地内部以及金文泰自然走廊沿线的生态连通性。

在吉尔曼军营，绿化面积将从约8公顷增加到约12公顷。这约占现有20公顷绿地的60%，高于原计划的约40%。

“山丘周围现有的更多森林将被保留，为直落布兰雅街 31 号提供更绿意盎然的临街面，同时，沿洛克路和马兰路的南北生态走廊将被拓宽，”建屋发展局在其新闻稿中表示。

“这些改进将增强南部山脊内部的生态连通性，以及与贝拉亚溪和拉布拉多自然保护区的连通性。”

建屋发展局表示，这些住房数据是基于广泛的规划假设的估计值，需要在详细设计阶段进行进一步评估。

更多详情，包括房屋类型和发售日期，将在确定后公布。

陈先生在接受记者采访时表示，政府可能会在这些地块上建造更高的楼房。

“所以，归根结底，这是一个非常重要的原则，那就是我们致力于尽可能多地保护现有建筑，但与此同时，我们也需要为那些希望在理想地段、中心地段、靠近家人的地方寻找住房的新加坡人提供可负担得起的住房，”他补充道。

在7月10日公布拟议开发项目后，引发了公众的强烈抗议，随后进行了修订。

根据最初的计划，日落大道附近约 15 公顷的马朱森林和吉尔曼兵营附近至少 10 公顷的森林可能会被清理出来用于住宅开发。

自然保护组织呼吁加强环境保护，而居民告诉中央社，他们担心过度开发和森林砍伐的影响。

正式咨询于8月6日结束。大约一周后，陈先生表示，根据公众反馈，政府将在两个地点保留比原计划更多的绿化面积。

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这些决定是如何做出的

建屋发展局表示，此次审查以两个地点的环境研究以及通过公众咨询和参与会议收集的反馈意见为指导。

报告还指出，各机构在权衡保留更多绿地的生态重要性与住房需求和其他土地利用因素时，会考虑每个地点的具体情况。

“保留额外的绿地是因为它们可以增强保留栖息地的长期生存能力，并维持生态连通性，”建屋发展局表示。

“为了加强这些地区的自然保护，国家公园局（NParks）将把相当一部分绿地划为自然公园加以保护。”

在 7 月 10 日至 8 月 6 日的公众咨询期间，建屋发展局收到了约 7,200 份关于 Maju Forest 的反馈意见，以及 2,300 份关于 Gillman Barracks 的反馈意见。

此外，有关部门还与约 1000 名利益相关者进行了沟通，其中包括自然保护团体、青年、学者、规划和建筑环境专业人士以及其他公众成员。

在各机构的支持下，基层顾问组织了会议，咨询了工地周围的居民的意见。

建屋发展局表示，他们收到了“各种各样的”反馈意见，反映了对这两个地块发展计划的不同看法。

这些担忧包括栖息地和生物多样性的丧失、对生态连通性的影响以及森林提供的更广泛的生态系统服务。

有人质疑这两个地点是否需要更多住房，并建议探索其他棕地、加强现有已开发区域或减少拟建开发项目的占地面积。

建屋发展局表示，许多受访者强调了吉尔曼军营的历史、文化和社区价值。一些受访者也意识到这两个地区都需要更多住房，以便家庭成员能够住得更近。

建屋发展局补充道：“规划国家需求，包括住房、自然和文化遗产，需要做出艰难但必要的权衡。作为规划过程的一部分，各机构已审查了周边地区的空置地块和棕地，包括公众和居民建议的地点。”

“每个地块都根据其当前和未来的规划用途进行评估，评估时间取决于该地块何时可以进行重建，以及是否能够在规定的时间内满足住房需求。”

该机构表示，一些地块已经规划用于住房建设，而另一些地块仍需用于现有用途，或者在需要住房的时间范围内无法使用。

“它们与马朱森林和吉尔曼军营一起，构成更广泛的住房项目规划的一部分，以满足2030年代的住房需求，”建屋发展局表示。

发展研究中审查的地点示例

马朱森林及周边地区

规划或正在开发用于住宅用途的地块：

金文泰（Ghim Moh）原临时巴士设施及已腾空的选择性整体重建计划（SERS）用地

西奈山莱佛士初级学院旧址

目前有人居住，但已采取措施保障其居住用途：

阿尔伯特·温塞米乌斯巷的地点

克莱门蒂大道5号321至323座旧址的施工现场

安保指挥部

金文泰弯旁的工地

荷兰天空公园竞技场

HHOM @ Ulu Pandan 旅舍

仍需保留或用于现有用途或其他用途：

新加坡管理学院和新加坡社会科学大学

南华中学旁一块空地，规划用途为“教育机构”。

吉尔曼兵营及周边地区

仓库巷工业区

吉宝产业园、吉宝码头、丹戎巴葛码头（南部滨水区的一部分）

三角洲马戏团边缘停车场及毗邻的州属土地

亚历山德拉公园（现有住宅区）

原中央人力基地

巴西班让物流园区及周边地块

亚历山德拉村工业区

谢尔顿学院国际

花柏山山麓已开发区域（包括锡金美食中心）

亨德森工业园

该机构补充说，近年来住房需求依然强劲，因为出生于上世纪 80 年代末和 90 年代（当时生育率较高）的新加坡人群体规模更大，现在正值购房年龄。

“住房需求也受到家庭规模缩小的推动，因为越来越多的夫妇、单身人士和老年人选择拥有自己的住房，而不是与大家庭成员住在一起，”建屋发展局表示。

去年，建屋发展局 (HDB) 在三个预购组屋 (BTO) 项目中收到了约 70,000 份申请，共计 19,723 套组屋。

建屋发展局表示，各机构力求“在尽可能谨慎地开发地块的同时，满足新加坡人的住房需求，从而取得平衡”。

两个网站均有变更

在马朱森林，保留更大的连片绿地将为野生动物的迁徙提供走廊，包括对具有保护意义的物种（如黄头鹎和马来穿山甲）而言，同时还能保护更多具有保护意义的植物物种。

扩大后的拟保留区域将作为新的自然公园加以保护，并为社区提供参与栖息地改善工作的机会。

未来的庄园还将把自然融入其景观设计中，沿着布鲁克维尔大道新建的自然步道将采用多层植物种植，模仿天然森林的结构。

建屋发展局表示，现有的金文泰邻里公园将继续为居民服务，同时未来的住宅区内也将提供新的社区和商业设施。

“当旧裕廊线自然步道全面建成后，居民将在连接铁路走廊和裕廊湖花园的更广阔的金文泰自然走廊内有更多以自然为基础的休闲选择，”建屋发展局表示。

2024年3月7日拍摄的吉尔曼军营9号营房照片。（图片：TODAY/Ili Mansor）

在吉尔曼兵营，更大的绿地将为现有森林提供更宽的缓冲区，并进一步加强南部山脊东西向的生态联系，以及通往贝拉亚溪和拉布拉多自然保护区的南北向生态联系。

这些绿地将并入即将建成的亚历山德拉自然公园，扩大拉布拉多自然公园网络内的绿化面积。

国家公园局将加强沿亚历山大路的环岛路线，以改善铁路走廊和拉布拉多自然公园网络之间的南北连通性。

亚历山大路和直落布兰雅路沿线的自然步道也将得到改善，而沿着直落布兰雅街 31 号新建的自然步道将采用多层绿化，以方便蝴蝶和鸟类等动物在该地区活动。

修订后的方案将保留最初方案中确定的 25 座保留建筑，这些建筑被评估为具有“特殊”和“高度”的历史意义。

这些建筑物将沿普雷斯顿路、洛克路和马兰路成组保留，并可改作商业用途和便利设施。

各机构还在研究保留非建筑文物的可能性，例如米德尔塞克斯军团和忠诚军团的军徽。

建屋发展局表示，这些开发项目需要数年时间才能完成，因为在建造房屋和配套设施之前，必须先进行基础设施和场地准备工作。

在两个地点的植被区域开始开发工程之前，将制定环境管理和监测计划，以概述尽量减少工程对环境的影响并保护已确定保留的绿化和生态特征的措施。

当局也可能进入现场进行进一步研究，例如土壤调查工作。

马朱森林的土地准备工作预计将于 2028 年上半年开始，届时公众将无法进入该地。

吉尔曼军营的场地施工预计将于2027年下半年开始，首先进行的是建筑物拆除工作。土地准备工作预计将于2029年开始。

在项目实施过程中，环境缓解和监测措施将继续进行。

未来的住宅开发项目将融入茂盛的植物，同时利用环境建模来优化组屋周围的空气流通。

“这些气候友好型设计和大面积的绿化，加上凉爽的油漆和减少吸热的材料，将提高居民的热舒适度，并增强未来住宅区的气候适应能力，”建屋发展局表示。

声明还补充说，通过长期规划，政府将继续保护和恢复重要的栖息地，加强全岛的生态连通性，并扩大新加坡的公园、自然保护区、水道和自然走廊网络。

“我们将继续把自然融入我们的城市环境，使我们的城市对当代和后代来说既宜居又可持续发展，”建屋发展局表示。

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