URA unveils plans for mixed-use development with bus interchange at Hougang MRT, & proposals for Mount Pleasant site

The Hougang sites are about 12ha in total, and will be part of an interchange between two MRT lines.

Tan Min-Wei

October 31, 2024, 09:02 PM

Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has demarcated several parcels of land next to the Hougang MRT station for development into a mixed-use commercial and residential development that will also incorporate a bus interchange.

The site includes currently vacant land, as well as land occupied by the Hougang Central bus interchange and the HDB Hougang branch.

The changes were part of proposed amendments to the URA’s Master Plan 2019 which was published on Oct. 28, and also included more information on plans for the Mount Pleasant Housing Estate.

Over 2,000 new homes, possibly

The amendments highlight three sites in Hougang that will be developed in the upcoming years.

The Straits Times (ST) reported that the first site, a 4.7ha area, bounded by Hougang Street 10 and Hougang Central, will be created for the mixed-use development, and will have a gross plot ratio of 2.5.

The plot includes a large vacant area, currently a grassy field, surrounding Exit B of Hougang station on the North East Line.

It also includes a plot of land currently occupied by the HDB Hougang branch office building and is next to Hougang Mall.

The area will eventually be part of an interchange that includes the North East Line Hougang station, the Cross Island line station, as well as a bus interchange.

The second site measures about 3 ha and is located on the other side of the Hougang Central Road from the first site.

It is currently occupied by the Hougang Central bus interchange, as well as land used for the development of the Cross Island Line.

A third 4ha site, which is currently vacant, has also been designated slightly further south and will be used for residential development.

Experts that ST spoke to estimate that the plots could potentially have over 2,000 homes, depending on eventual use.

The URA said the proposed amendments are to support demand for housing in the area, and would eventually allow residents to benefit from new transport, notes and commercial immunities.

Mount Pleasant

The Oct. 28 amendments also included more information on a proposed housing development at Mount Pleasant’s Old Police Academy.

The Mount Pleasant site, immediately north of the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), was initially announced in November 2021 and will provide an estimated 5,000 new homes.

The proposals are for high-density residential development, which will be served by the future Mount Pleasant MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast line.

In addition to the residential developments, six buildings have been proposed for conservation to recall the heritage site’s use as the Old Police Academy.

The buildings will be adapted for contemporary uses, with one of the buildings housing a redesigned neighbourhood police post.