URA defers evaluation of Lee Hsien Yang's application to demolish 38 Oxley Road

NHB said Lee Hsien Yang submitted his application to URA on Oct. 21.

Winnie Li

October 25, 2024, 02:59 AM

The evaluation of Lee Hsien Yang's application to demolish the family home at 38 Oxley Road "has been deferred", an Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) spokesperson told Mothership on Oct. 24.

This was after it was announced that "the National Heritage Board (NHB) will commence a study of the site to assess if it has national historical, heritage, and architectural significance as to be worthy of preservation".

Lee Hsien Yang had announced in an Oct. 15 Facebook post that he would be making the application, in which he also stated that he did so "to honour [his] parents' last wishes".

According to him, first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew had "wished for the house to be demolished 'immediately after' Lee Wei Ling moved out" in his will.

Lee Wei Ling, who was Lee Hsien Yang's elder sister, passed away on Oct. 9 at the age of 69.

Lee Hsien Yang added that as "the sole legal owner" of the building, he planned on building "a small private dwelling to be held within the family in perpetuity" on the site if his application were to be successful.

'Keeping options open for 38 Oxley Road': NHB

In an Oct. 24 media release, NHB said it decided to commence the study because Lee Hsien Yang's application "will rule out a proper and full consideration" of the options for the building and the site where it is located.

According to the board, some of these options were listed in the 2018 report of the Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road, which included "retaining the entire building" and "retaining only the basement dining room", amongst others.

The report also found that while Lee Kuan Yew preferred the building to be demolished, he "was prepared to accept options other than demolition, provided that suitable arrangements were made", said NHB.

To help the government "make an informed and considered decision in the fullness of time", NHB's Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board will be conducting the study into 38 Oxley Road.

NHB's recommendations will then be submitted to the Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth to decide whether to issue a preservation order for the site under the Preservation of Monuments Act.

Approaching 38 Oxley Road 'with open mind': Edwin Tong

NHB also added that the government "recognises that there will be a diverse range of views amongst Singaporeans" on 38 Oxley Road.

"If a preservation order is made, the government will have the time needed to consider carefully the different options identified in the Ministerial Committee Report and any other options that may emerge," read the media release.

"This will ensure a well-considered decision that will stand the test of time and will strengthen our solidarity and unity as a nation," said NHB.

Similarly, Culture, Community, and Youth Minister Edwin Tong also wrote in a Facebook post that it is important for Singapore to approach the matter "with an open mind" and keep the options "open".

"The passage of time will help us better appreciate the matter in its proper context, with the benefit of some hindsight," said Tong.