Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, St Wilfred Sport Centre to close; sites may be used for public housing
Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, St Wilfred Sport Centre to close; sites may be used for public housing
SINGAPORE - The Kallang Basin Swimming Complex and St Wilfred Sport Centre will close in the second half of 2025 when their leases expire, Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Housing Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said in a joint media statement on June 13.
The swimming complex at 21 Geylang Bahru Lane will close on Sept 1, and the St Wilfred facility in Whampoa will shutter on Oct 1.
The Kallang Basin venue also houses a gym, while the other has a tennis and squash centre and a football field.
The national agencies are studying plans to redevelop both sites for public housing, said the statement.
'This is part of our ongoing efforts to address the strong and broad-based demand for housing in recent years,' said the agencies.
'As part of our long-term planning efforts, the Government will also continue to develop and enhance sports infrastructure, working closely with the community to meet Singapore's evolving lifestyle and recreational needs.'
After the closures of both facilities, residents in Whampoa and Geylang Bahru can visit alternative options such as a new sports facility in Kolam Ayer and another venue in Whampoa which is due to be completed by end-2025.
They can also visit the ActiveSG swimming complexes in Serangoon, Geylang East and Jalan Besar, squash and tennis courts at Kallang ActiveSG Squash Centre, Burghley ActiveSG Squash and Tennis Centre, and Kallang Tennis Centre. Under the Dual-Use Scheme, the indoor sport hall and field at Bendemeer Primary School and the football field at Bendemeer Secondary School are also available.
As part of the Government's Sports Facilities Master Plan, SportSG continues to 'develop and rejuvenate infrastructure to meet Singapore's diverse and evolving sporting needs, interests and aspirations', said the statement. It also noted that the number of ActiveSG facilities across Singapore has increased by 30 per cent since 2013, with more in the pipeline, including the Farrer Park Town Play Field and Punggol Regional Sport Centre.
ERA Singapore's key executive officer Eugene Lim said that 'it makes sense for the sites to make way for better land use, especially given that they are located quite near to the city centre'.
He added: 'The Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, built in the 1980s, is relatively dated compared to many of the newer sports complexes developed in recent years. This is the same for the St Wilfred Sport Centre.'
Mr Lim also noted that Geylang Bahru is in need of rejuvenation as many of the blocks there were built in the 1970s. Future housing in the area is expected to be sought after since it will be within walking distance of Geylang Bahru MRT station and the Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre, he added.
He said: 'Due to the proximity to town, the (Build-To-Order projects) are likely to be Plus flats. The nearby sites have a plot ratio of 2.8, and assuming a similar plot ratio, we may see some high-rise BTO flats potentially up to 36 storeys. The new development may feature a mix of two- to four-room HDB flats, catering to a range of household profiles.'
The St Wilfred facility in Whampoa will shutter on Oct 1.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Mr Lim also pointed out that St Wilfred Sport Centre is similar as it is located near St George's Road where many of the HDB flats were built in the 1980s. Adding that it is located near the city centre and is a 10-minute walk to Boon Keng MRT station, he said the site's 'proximity and accessibility to amenities' will also potentially place the new housing in the Plus category.
Prime and Plus flats, which are located closer to amenities such as MRT stations, come with stricter resale conditions such as a 10-year minimum occupation period and a subsidy clawback.
Mr Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property search portal Mogul.sg, noted that 'it makes sense for both (facilities) to close' as there are other existing and upcoming sports facilities for residents.
On the possible redevelopment in Kallang Basin, he said: 'It gives a chance for the Government to reinvent and develop the whole area with a mixture of HDB flats and private homes. That whole area is rather aged and it is possible now to really intensify the land use there.'
As for St Wilfred, he added that the area can also be redeveloped to ensure it is better utilised.
Deepanraj Ganesan is a sports journalist at The Straits Times focusing on football, athletics, combat sports and policy-related news.
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