Singapore drops Padang UNESCO World Heritage Site bid

It cited the need for Singapore to consult Unesco on developments that could affect the site’s heritage significance if it were inscribed.

“This could apply to modifications to existing buildings or new plans in the surrounding areas affecting important views to and from the Padang,” the board added.

While many historically important buildings within the proposed site and buffer zone are already conserved or gazetted as national monuments, NHB noted that imposing additional requirements on private commercial buildings, such as malls and offices, would significantly affect property owners and the future rejuvenation of the Civic District.

The decision not to proceed “reflects the need to strike a careful balance between safeguarding the heritage significance of the Padang Civic Ensemble and retaining sufficient flexibility for any future plans in the larger Civic District”, it said.

For instance, in its submission, Singapore had argued that the coalescence of colonial-era and post-independence civic institutions within the Padang Civic Ensemble “bears testament to the widespread phenomenon of decolonisation and the globally significant transition of long-held British territories to newly independent nations”.

Based on this, the advisory bodies had also advised Singapore to look into protecting its post-independence buildings within the proposed World Heritage Site. The Supreme Court Building and Parliament House are among those within the proposed site boundary that have no legal protections.

NHB had acknowledged in 2023 that the Padang would be a “challenging nomination” because of the opportunity costs for future redevelopment of the surrounding area.

It said it proceeded with the preliminary assessment to get official input and guidance from UNESCO, and had hoped the evaluators would consider Singapore’s context as a small, densely built city state.

In reaching its decision, the board said it had studied overseas cases and recognised that Unesco requirements could span decades and become more stringent over time.

It cited Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City in Britain, which was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2004 but delisted in 2021 after new developments within the site and its buffer zone were deemed to have damaged its authenticity and integrity.

NHB also considered the cases of Jongmyo Shrine in South Korea and the Old Town of Regensburg in Germany, which are both World Heritage Sites.

A high-rise complex outside the buffer zone of Jongmyo Shrine has been stalled after UNESCO in November 2025 asked the Seoul government to suspend building approvals, citing concerns that the buildings might damage Jongmyo’s landscape.

About 1.5km from Regensburg’s buffer zone, a proposed 98m-tall building had to be redesigned following concerns that it would impact views of the site.

Kevin Tan, president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites Singapore, said not attaining UNESCO World Heritage Site status does not diminish the significance of the site.

“The NHB should continue to get Singaporeans to appreciate the incredible social memories forged within the Padang, which in and of itself is an unspectacular field, but was where many important firsts and events that marked the making of Singapore took place,” he said.

“The site is almost the official eyewitness to the making of modern Singapore,” he added.

One possibility is to revive New Year’s Day celebrations at the Padang, where regattas and other activities were held in the 1840s, he said.

Tan noted that Singapore’s decision on the Padang Civic Ensemble does not rule out a future Unesco World Heritage Site nomination.

“One just has to be careful in its submission, because the rules are clear and abiding by them requires commitment on the part of the parties seeking inscription,” he added.

With the decision not to proceed with the nomination, the Padang Civic Ensemble will be removed from Singapore’s tentative list. NHB said it has not identified any other sites for inclusion on the tentative list.

The board added that it would have to carefully consider if the requirements and guidelines raised in the preliminary assessment will apply to future potential nominations.

It also said its resources are now focused on nominations to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list, adding that the process involves local communities and allows for more collaboration with international partners.