More greenery retained at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks

The Ministry of National Development and public agencies held engagement sessions with nature groups, youth, academics, planning and built environment professionals, and members of the public. MPs also organised sessions for residents living near the two areas.

Tan said many residents requested to retain more greenery where possible, during door-to-door engagements and closed-door sessions.

“Many have also told us that they understood the need for more housing and also shared with us constructive feedback and suggestions on what they would like to see in the future estates,” he added.

HDB said there were also questions on whether more housing was required at the two sites, and suggestions to explore other brownfield sites, intensify existing developed areas, or reduce the proposed development footprints.

“There were also those who recognised the need for more homes in both areas so families can live closer to one another for mutual care and support,” it added.

Residents had also submitted alternative proposals for Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks, which HDB reviewed.

One, called A Better Plan for Gillman, proposed that some of the homes planned for the area be built instead at Alexandra Park, so forested areas in Gillman would be left untouched.

An HDB spokesperson said the proposal to concentrate housing development only within brownfield areas at Gillman Barracks and Alexandra Park could not be adopted as the latter area is currently occupied, and will not be available for redevelopment within the timeframe in which housing supply is needed.

As for the plan’s call to preserve more of the forest and make the site’s natural and heritage assets more accessible, the spokesperson said the HDB’s revised plan sets aside more greenery, reduces the development footprint and strengthens ecological connectivity.

“We will also explore suitable suggestions raised by residents, including nature trails, sensory boardwalks and heritage trails, where these are technically and environmentally feasible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sunset Way residents proposed to fully retain Maju Forest as a climate resilience centre that would serve research and recreation purposes.

The HDB spokesperson said doing so would not address housing needs. “However, the revised plan responds to some of the underlying concerns about conserving a larger, more connected forest and retaining its ecological functions,” he added.

The board said planning for national needs – such as housing, nature and heritage – requires “difficult but necessary trade-offs”.

It added that alternative brownfield sites were considered for development, including locations suggested by members of the public and residents.

Some of these sites are already planned for housing and will contribute to future supply – such as the Protective Security Command in Ulu Pandan Road, HDB said.

Other sites that had been looked at, including Maju Camp and the former Central Manpower Base in Depot Road, are required for existing uses, and cannot be freed up within the timeframe in which new homes are needed.

“Taking into account all of the considerations, we have found – as best as we can – a landing spot and also a right balance,” said Tan.

“These engagements also allow us to also explain our planning considerations as we need to juggle between retaining greenery, preserving heritage, and also meeting the housing aspirations of Singaporeans.”

HDB said housing demand in recent years has been strong, with larger cohorts of Singaporeans, who were born in the 1980s and 1990s, now looking to buy their own flats.

The board added that demand is also driven by decreasing household sizes, as more couples, singles and seniors choose to live on their own instead of with their extended families.

It noted that recent Build-To-Order projects in Clementi and Bukit Merah – where Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks are located – drew “significant interest”, with about 2,000 applications received for Clementi Emerald’s 420 four-room flats, and 5,300 applications for Berlayar Rise’s 988 four-room flats.

HDB said agencies “sought to strike the balance between developing the sites as sensitively as possible, while meeting the housing needs of Singaporeans” as they reviewed plans for the two sites.

Asked if the development plans shared on Oct 28 are final, Tan cited the cumulative 9,500 feedback submissions received, as well as the engagements with more than 1,000 persons – some of whom were engaged multiple times.

He said the Government has looked into many of the suggestions, and made its decision after “wide and deep consultations”. “We will have to proceed with the development as I mentioned, and I thank all of the stakeholders for giving us their views.”

HDB said the revised conceptual plans for the sites will form the basis for the detailed planning and design of the sites, with development to take place over several years.

Before development works in vegetated areas at both sites commence, an Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan will be put in place, it said.

This sets out measures to minimise the environmental impact of works, and protect greenery and other ecological features earmarked for retention.