Latest news with #MasterPlan2019
Business Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Shatec building sale part of asset management strategy, amid long-term plan reviews
[SINGAPORE] The sale of Shatec's Bukit Batok building is part of the hospitality school's asset management strategy, with the institute 'currently in the early stages of reviewing its long-term plans', said board chairman Loh Lik Peng in response to queries from The Business Times. But he did not address a query on whether Shatec is gradually closing, or whether its first overseas institute in Saudi Arabia is affected. 'As the review is still ongoing, we are unable to provide further comments,' Loh said. In a joint media statement on Thursday (Jul 3) night, Shatec and the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) said the hospitality school is 'conducting a business containment exercise'. This exercise, which took effect from Apr 1, resulted in a scaling down of operations while reviewing Shatec's long-term plans, said Loh and FDAWU general secretary Sankaradass S Chami. Shatec will continue its committed continuing education and training runs. It will teach its 'last batch' of pre-employment training students until March 2026 or the committed end date, whichever comes later. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up 'This decision, made by the Shatec board after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of its current operations' commercial viability, will allow Shatec to strategise its future direction,' said the statement. The Sapling, which Shatec operated as a training restaurant for its students, closed in March this year. On its website, Shatec said the move was made as the institute 'transitions away from full-time programmes'. Its building at 21 Bukit Batok Street 22 was put up for sale in May by CBRE, the exclusive marketing agent. It was priced at around S$18 million, with the sale to be conducted via private treaty. A satellite campus in Orchard Road, opened in January 2024, reportedly closed at the end of June 2025. 42 staff affected The school is unionised under FDAWU, which is affiliated with the National Trades Union Congress. Shatec gave the union advance notice of the exercise, which saw 42 staff retrenched. The union has been working with management to assist these staff and ensure fair compensation, in line with unionised norms, said the statement. Previously known as the Singapore Hotel Association Training and Education Centre, Shatec was set up in 1983 by the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) to develop a talent pipeline for the hospitality industry. It offers courses in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts. In response to queries about Shatec's potential closure, SHA referred BT to Loh's official statement. Bukit Batok building, Saudi Arabia institute According to CBRE, Shatec's Bukit Batok building sits on a 40,901-square-foot (sq ft) land plot with a lease tenure until 2051. The property has a gross floor area of around 64,548 sq ft. The site is designated 'Business 1' in the Master Plan 2019. With a plot ratio of 2.5, it allows a built-up area of about 102,253 sq ft, 'offering substantial redevelopment potential', CBRE said in May. 'The property is well-built to support light manufacturing and production usage, as well as regional (research and development) offices,' it added. In March 2024, Shatec announced that it was opening its first overseas institute in Riyadh, with classes to begin in the second half of the year. This was supported by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), the Singapore Tourism Board and the Saudi Arabian government. With the support of an EnterpriseSG grant, Shatec signed a licence agreement with Modern Hospitality Company, a joint venture by Saudi companies that would fund and run the school.
Business Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Sale of building is part of ‘asset management strategy' as Shatec reviews long-term plans
[SINGAPORE] The sale of Shatec's Bukit Batok building is part of its asset management strategy, with the hospitality school 'currently in the early stages of reviewing its long-term plans', said board chairman Loh Lik Peng in response to queries from The Business Times. But he did not address a query on whether Shatec is gradually closing, nor whether Shatec's first overseas institute in Saudi Arabia is affected. Said Loh: 'As the review is still ongoing, we are unable to provide further comments.' In a joint media statement on Thursday (Jul 3) night, Shatec and the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) said the hospitality school is 'conducting a business containment exercise'. This exercise, which took effect from Apr 1, resulted in a scaling down of operations while reviewing its long-term plans, said Loh and FDAWU general secretary Sankaradass S Chami. Shatec will continue its committed continuing education and training runs. It will teach its 'last batch' of pre-employment training students until March 2026 or until the committed end date, whichever comes later. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am SGSME Get updates on Singapore's SME community, along with profiles, news and tips. Sign Up Sign Up 'This decision, made by the Shatec board after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of its current operation's commercial viability, will allow Shatec to strategise its future direction,' said the statement. The Sapling restaurant, which Shatec operated as a training restaurant for its students, closed in March this year. On its website, Shatec said the move was made as the institute 'transitions away from full-time programmes'. Shatec's building at 21 Bukit Batok Street 22 was put up for sale in May by CBRE, the exclusive marketing agent. It was priced at approximately S$18 million, with the sale to be conducted via private treaty. A satellite campus in Orchard Road, opened in January 2024, reportedly closed at the end of June 2025. 42 staff affected The school is unionised under National Unions Trade Congress-affiliated FDAWU. Shatec gave the union advance notice of the exercise, which affects 42 staff. The union has been working with management to assist these staff and ensure fair compensation, in line with unionised norms, said the statement. Previously known as the Singapore Hotel Association Training and Education Centre, Shatec was set up in 1983 by the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) to develop a talent pipeline for the hospitality industry. It offers courses in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts. In response to queries about Shatec's potential closure, SHA referred BT to Loh's official statement. Bukit Batok building, Saudi Arabia institute According to CBRE, Shatec's Bukit Batok building sits on a land plot of about 40,901 square feet with a lease tenure until 2051. The property has a gross floor area of approximately 64,548 square feet. The site is designated 'Business 1' in the Master Plan 2019. With a plot ratio of 2.5, it allows a built-up area of approximately 102,253 square feet, 'offering substantial redevelopment potential', said CBRE in May. 'The property is well-built to support light manufacturing and production usage, as well as regional R&D offices,' it added. In March 2024, Shatec announced that it was opening its first overseas institute in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with classes to begin in the second half of the year. This was supported by Enterprise Singapore (EnterpriseSG), the Singapore Tourism Board and the Saudi Arabian government. With the support of an EnterpriseSG grant, Shatec signed a licence agreement with Modern Hospitality Company, a joint venture by Saudi companies that would fund and run the school.
Business Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
United House relaunched for sale at S$166 million
[SINGAPORE] United House, a freehold commercial development in the Orchard Road area, has been put up for collective sale again with an unchanged reserve price of S$166 million. This time, the Urban Redevelopment Authority has granted in-principle approval for the building to be redeveloped for hotel use, with the same gross plot ratio of 4.9. The S$166 million price tag translates to a land rate of S$3,045 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr), assuming it is redeveloped for commercial use, said marketing agent Edmund Tie in a Tuesday (Jun 10) press statement. If redeveloped for hotel use, the land rate works out to S$3,254 psf ppr. The prime freehold site is located just behind Concorde Hotel and Shopping Centre, which was sold in November 2024 to Hotel Properties Limited for S$821 million. This was a shade above the guide price of S$820 million and works out to around S$1,804 psf ppr. United House sits on a freehold land parcel of 1,193 square metres (sq m). It is currently zoned for commercial use under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Master Plan 2019. This means that there is no Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty and no foreign ownership restriction on buyers. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up The property can be redeveloped into a 10-storey commercial building with a gross floor area of up to 62,900 square feet, Edmund Tie head of investment advisory Swee Shou Fern previously said. Successful buyers will also have the option to pursue a strata-titled commercial development, said the agency. Swee noted a growing appetite for quality hospitality assets in Singapore, driven by a resurgence of tourism; meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions; and music-related travel. 'Its proximity to (transportation nodes), arts institutions, and cultural landmarks… makes it ideal for modern hospitality concepts such as urban explorer hubs, wellness retreats, or experiential hotels catering to both leisure and business travellers,' she said. This is United House owners' second relaunch attempt. It was first launched for sale last October, and later relaunched for sale in February this year. Prior to that, the development was put up for sale in 1989 by UOL and sold in 1990 for S$30.6 million or S$900 psf to Hong Kong-based First Pacific Land, which had ties to Indonesian businessman Liem Sioe Liong. Barely a year later, First Pacific put the property up for sale. According to media reports then, marketing consultant Jones Lang Wootton was instructed to sell the five-storey property en bloc or on a floor-by-floor basis. Separately, property consultancy CBRE has extended the tender submission deadline for the en bloc sale of Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre by three months to Sep 9, from Jun 10. This is because CBRE has just received the outline planning permission (OPP) for the freehold site, as well as an adjoining plot of land. This would allow the plots – which span a total site of 5,443.3 sq m – to be redeveloped into a mixed-use development comprising serviced apartments, retail and residential components. With the OPP, the redevelopment could span a gross floor area of 16,424.5 sq m, comprising 3,283.5 sq m of commercial units and serviced apartments, and 13,141 sq m for residential use. Assuming an average home size of 85 sq m, this works out to over 150 residential units. The guide price of S$260 million then translates to about S$1,470 psf. This represents a premium of up to 50 per cent of units' existing market value, chairman of the collective sale committee Mathews Thomas previously told The Business Times. Given the changes, CBRE has agreed to provide potential investors and developers more time to 'assess the implications and consider their options for the sites'. This includes the development mix and pricing for the site. Michael Tay, CBRE deputy managing director of Singapore advisory and capital markets head, added that the dearth of freehold redevelopment opportunities has led to keen interest in the site. 'The OPP will now provide developers with greater clarity on the development potential,' said Tay. 'We anticipate strong interest from developers who have looked at the site with interest since we first launched the tender on Apr 7.' The tender for United House will close Jul 1, while that of Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre will close on Sep 9.
Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Former Middleton Hospital earmarked for lifestyle hub use
The former Communicable Disease Centre as viewed from 23 Akyab Road on Oct 10, 2024. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Former Communicable Disease Centre in Moulmein Road put up for use as lifestyle hub SINGAPORE – Once a place for the treatment of patients with infectious diseases such as smallpox, tuberculosis and Aids, the former Middleton Hospital and Communicable Disease Centre could soon house pickleball courts, cafes and art galleries. A tender for the 91,541.27 sq m site in Moulmein Road to be used as a lifestyle hub on a short-term tenancy was launched on May 28 by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA). Approved uses for the site include office spaces, serviced apartments, spa and wellness facilities and urban farming plots, among others. It is currently zoned for residential use. Of the site's 44 buildings, 23 have been safeguarded for potential conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), and will be subject to addition and alteration guidelines from the authority. This is to ensure the retention of their character and key architectural elements and features. The other 21 buildings cannot be demolished, but will not be subjected to the addition and alteration guidelines. SLA said that the site 'served as a pivotal institution in Singapore's healthcare history for over a century'. It was established in 1913 as an infectious diseases hospital and named the Middleton Hospital in 1920 after Dr William Robert Colvin Middleton, a public health advocate. Of the 12,978.88 sq m of gross floor area across the site's buildings, a maximum of 3,893.66 sq m – or about 30 per cent – can be used for retail or food and beverage purposes, or both. F&B uses, including outdoor refreshment areas, can form no more than half of the allotted 3,893.66 sq m. The SLA said in a press release that it envisions 2 Moulmein Road to be 'a dynamic lifestyle hub with offerings that will cater to families and multi-generation communities'. The successful tenderer will be awarded a tenancy of five years , with the option of a four-year extension, subject to the Government's approval. Based on the URA's Master Plan 2019 – a statutory document that guides developments for the next 10 to 15 years – the site is currently zoned for residential use, subject to detailed planning. When vacant state properties are not earmarked for immediate development, SLA, as the custodian of state land, can put them up for rent in the interim period. Other state properties that have been converted for lifestyle use recently include the former Nan Chiau High School in River Valley, now New Bahru ; and the former St Andrew's Mission Hospital near Maxwell Road, now Kada . Block 807, the former hospital's mortuary, is one of 23 buildings being considered for conservation. PHOTO: ST FILE The former Bukit Timah Fire Station is also being turned into a lifestyle hub. Dr Yeo Kang Shua, vice-president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites Singapore, welcomed the announcement that 23 buildings have been earmarked for potential conservation, as future works will likely be guided by the relevant authorities to avoid adverse impact on the buildings' heritage value. 'This gives the tender more transparency and helps to moderate the expectations of potential bidders,' he said. 'Realistically, some works will be needed to make the site suitable for new programmes and functions, and the question is how intervention much is too much and how little is too little – a right balance needs to be found,' Dr Yeo added. He said the hospital's lush and spacious layout is notable, as it gave patients fresh air and daylight – elements associated with health and hygiene, even today. Block 804, the administration block of the former Middleton Hospital, is among those being considered for conservation. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The concept of such a cultural landscape should be retained on the site, said Dr Yeo. Ms Tricia Song, head of research for Singapore and South-east Asia at CBRE, said that the addition and alteration guidelines by URA for the 23 buildings are unlikely to affect demand for the site, as the short tenure does not justify heavy capital expenditure and redevelopment. However, Dr Chua Yang Liang, JLL's head of research and consultancy for South-east Asia, said the conservation-related requirements are a dual-edged sword for developers – they add complexity, costs and constraints to development plans, but also offer unique character and heritage value that can become distinctive selling points. Ms Song said that the site is relatively well-located – within reasonable walking distance from Novena MRT station and flanked by Novena Health City and Balestier Road, which provide a business and residential catchment. If the future hub is well-planned with ample and cheap or free parking, the location is attractive for fitness, spa and wellness and sports facilities such as pickleball courts, which she said are lacking in the area. The former hospital was home to some of Singapore's last Nightingale wards, which featured no subdivisions and were designed to be airy. PHOTO: ST FILE Ms Catherine He, head of research at Colliers Singapore, similarly said that recreational uses would be suitable for the site, as these have relatively lower fit-out costs and are in line with the site's medical legacy. 'The area is already well-served by a number of hotels, retail and offices and hence these uses are unlikely to be duplicated,' she said. Dr Chua added that pre- or postnatal care centres and spa and wellness facilities could generate strong demand by complementing the existing healthcare ecosystem in the area. He said that a critical consideration for potential bidders will be the traffic implications, as the Novena area 'already experiences considerable traffic congestion, which could pose a significant operational challenge for certain uses'. Century-long healthcare association In its 2020 book Uncommon Ground, SLA said that Middleton Hospital had its roots in a smallpox hospital and quarantine facility that began in the 1870s, and was set up at Balestier Plain. Plans to replace this facility were drawn up by the British Municipal Commission in 1905, with the infectious diseases hospital eventually opening at the 2 Moulmein Road site in June 1913. The former Middleton Hospital's iconic gatehouse, which was demolished in 1982 for road widening works. PHOTO: ST FILE In 1985, the hospital came under Tan Tock Seng Hospital as its Department of Communicable Diseases, later renamed Communicable Disease Centre. It played a role in the fight against various infectious diseases – such as the Sars outbreak in 2003 – until December 2018, when it was decommissioned and replaced by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, located at Jalan Tan Tock Seng. SLA said that the site supported Covid-19 operations until it was returned to the state in 2023. Heritage author and blogger Jerome Lim, who edited SLA's book, said he hopes that besides the 23 buildings in the former hospital that have been earmarked for potential conservation, lesser-known aspects like its drainage system will also be retained. He said the drains were 'built by the municipality with beautiful brickwork and used to be lined with ceramic', a feature that is rare in Singapore. The former Middleton Hospital, pictured in 2009, was from 1992 to 2018 the Communicable Disease Centre. PHOTO: LIANHE WANBAO Mr Lim added that there is also evidence that a double-drain system was originally installed at the hospital, which separated contaminated discharge from the wards from the public drainage system, thus preventing the spread of diseases. He said that the site also has some portions of the hospital's original fence, which have sharp tips that were meant to prevent quarantined patients from escaping. Retaining such features would allow future visitors to better appreciate how the hospital was designed, he said. SLA's tender closes on Aug 6, and is slated to be awarded on Nov 30. Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Land plots near Marymount, Caldecott and other MRT stations being readied for new homes
Multiple sites in Upper Thomson Road, near Marymount MRT station, are among those being prepared for new homes. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Land plots near Marymount, Caldecott and other MRT stations being readied for new homes SINGAPORE – Thousands of new homes are set to be built within walking distance of MRT stations across the island, including in Marymount, Caldecott and Kallang. The authorities are also priming sites near Upper Changi, Expo, one-north and Woodlands South stations for new homes, according to proposed amendments to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Master Plan 2019 that were published on April 24 and May 7. The URA masterplan is a statutory document that guides developments in Singapore for the next 10 to 15 years. Three of the land parcels for new homes are in Upper Thomson Road, close to Marymount MRT station. The first of these has an area of about 35,000 sq m, equivalent in size to just over five football fields. This site was previously home to Lakeview Shopping Centre, which was completed by the Housing Board in the early 1970s and included a popular hawker centre. HDB told the hawker centre's 168 stallholders and 134 shop tenants to leave by end-1999, as the area was earmarked for housing, The Straits Times reported in December 1997. The site, however, has remained undeveloped for about two decades after the shopping centre was demolished in the early 2000s. Ms Christine Sun, real estate company OrangeTee Group's chief researcher and strategist, said the site can yield 1,100 to 1,200 HDB flats, or 1,600 to 1,700 condominium units, based on its size and assigned gross plot ratio of 3.9. The plot ratio determines the maximum permissible floor area of developments. Mr Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property search portal said the site is more likely to be used for private housing, as it is surrounded by similar housing types – landed homes around Upper Thomson MRT station and Lakeview estate , a former Housing and Urban Development Company property that was privatised . The second plot earmarked for housing in the area is separated from the Shunfu Gardens HDB estate by a canal, and measures roughly 13,500 sq m. It has been assigned a plot ratio of 1.8. Ms Sun said this plot can hold 200 to 250 HDB flats, or 300 to 350 condo units. A similar number of new homes can be built on the third plot in the area – located just south of the Lakeview estate, and between Upper Thomson Road and St Theresa's Home – she added. This plot has an area of about 12,000 sq m , and has been assigned a plot ratio of 2.4 . In Toa Payoh, a site that is about 78,500 sq m in size has been earmarked for residential use, with commercial amenities on the first storey. Its allocated plot ratio is 4.7 . This site is right by Caldecott station, which is an interchange between the Circle and Thomson-East Coast MRT lines. It was formerly partially occupied by industrial properties that were demolished in 2017, after being used by technology company Philips. Analysts said the site can yield between 2,800 and 3,500 flats, or 4,000 to 4,200 condo units. A 78,500 sq m site next to Caldecott MRT station (right) has been earmarked for housing, with commercial use on the first storey. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Given the site's size, said Ms Sun, it can hold between four and six projects by private developers, two to three public housing projects, or a combination of both. Mr Mak said that with a ground floor of developments on the site zoned for commercial use, it can serve as a town centre for residents of the Caldecott area. He added that with the assigned plot ratio of 4.7, it is possible for future housing blocks on the site to have 50 storeys or more, giving residents an unblocked view of the greenery in the central catchment. Mr Mak expects that the site will attract strong interest from private developers if it is sold for condo use, due to its development potential and proximity to Caldecott station. National Development Minister Desmond Lee said in a Facebook post on May 15 that around 740 flats located on a separate plot near Caldecott station will be launched in the Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise in July. About 500m from Kallang MRT, two plots next to the Kallang River are being prepared for new homes , with both assigned a plot ratio of 3.5, up from the current 2.8 . One of these plots, which is adjacent to Boon Keng Road , has an area of about 11,000 sq m, while the other plot that is next to Kallang Road is about 23,500 sq m in size. Mr Mak said the smaller plot can yield 350 to 400 flats or 450 to 480 condo units, while 720 to 820 flats or 950 to 1,000 condo units can be built on the larger plot. Both Mr Mak and Ms Sun said that the plots will likely be used for public housing, as they are undesirable to private developers due to the neighbouring industrial area in Kallang Avenue, as well as the noise generated by trains running along the East-West Line. They also noted that current homes in this area are largely public flats, including nearby HDB projects such as Kallang Trivista and Kallang Horizon. Mr Mak said a significant number of homes built on the two sites are likely to have waterfront views, given their proximity to Kallang River. Ms Sun added that flats built here will likely be Prime flats, as the nearby Verandah @ Kallang project was launched under the HDB's Prime Location Public Housing model. Farther east, two housing sites that are close to Upper Changi MRT station on the Downtown Line and Expo station on the East-West Line are set to get their boundaries adjusted, with portions of the sites to be rezoned for road use. Both currently have a plot ratio of 2.1, which remains unchanged in URA's proposed amendment. The larger site, which is at the intersection of Simei Road and Upper Changi Road East, has an area of about 42,000 sq m. It can yield 700 to 750 flats or 1,000 to 1,200 condo units, Ms Sun said. The smaller site, which is about 33,000 sq m in size, can yield 550 to 600 flats or 800 to 850 condo units, she added. In 2022, the URA said that more public housing will be built around Upper Changi MRT station, to allow for more social mixing and to improve private estate residents' access to amenities. A 380-unit BTO project next to the MRT station – the first new flats in Simei in more than a decade – is slated for launch in July. It will include amenities such as a supermarket and a pre-school. Noting that there is a lack of land in Simei for other public housing projects, Mr Mak said the larger site is an obvious choice, should the authorities decides to inject more HDB homes in the area. It is a draw for people who work in the nearby Changi Business Park, he added. In Dover Road, a portion of a former Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme site is set to be used for new homes, with commercial amenities on the ground floor. The site, which is about 13,500 sq m in size and has been assigned a plot ratio of 4.2 , sits within the area formerly occupied by Blocks 30 to 32 and 34 to 39 Dover Road , which were demolished between 2018 and 2019 . The now-demolished Block 32 Dover Road, pictured in 2013. PHOTO: ST FILE Analysts said that the site can yield about 650 condo units, or between 440 and 560 flats. Mr Mak said that given the site's relatively small size and high plot ratio, it is likely that it will be sold to a private developer to build a condominium. He noted that other sites in and around one-north nearby that have been zoned for residential use, with commercial units on the first floor, are all privately developed. This site is part of the upcoming Dover Knowledge District, which URA said in 2019 would be an extension of one-north that will offer 'vibrant integrated spaces to create exciting new jobs and learning opportunities, and support Singapore's long-term economic growth' . Up north, more homes are set to be built near Woodlands South station, next to the Woodlands Health Campus site. In a proposed amendment to its masterplan, URA rezoned the site, which is about 27,500 sq m in size, from a reserve site to housing use, and assigned it a plot ratio of 2.1 . Analysts said it can yield 450 to 570 flats, or 650 to 700 condo units. Ms Sun said public housing is more likely for the site, as its proximity to a medical campus and Sembawang Air Base will make it less attractive to private developers. Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
