Chinatown Complex hawker centre to undergo 'extensive' 3-month renovation, planned to start Mar. 2026

Chinatown Complex Food Centre will be renovated under the Repairs and Redecoration (R&R) scheme soon.

There could be more extensive work than typically seen at hawker centres undergoing R&R works, as reported by CNA on Mar. 24.

The improvements to be made could include building more lifts, adding more signs to direct customers to stalls and toilets, brighter lights, and high-velocity fans.

CNA reported that the area's Member of Parliament, digital development and information minister Josephine Teo, convened a task force for the renovation.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) and National Environment Agency (NEA) are reportedly advising as well.

The renovation is slated to be completed in three months, and CNA reported that the Chinatown Complex Hawkers' Association plans for the work to start in March 2026.

NEA told Mothership in a Mar. 26 statement that the task force comprises stakeholders of Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre (CCMFC), including its Hawkers’ Association, along with NEA and HDB.

NEA also shared that the work being planned for Chinatown Complex is separate from another government scheme, the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme (HUP) 2.0 which was announced in March 2025.

The task force for Chinatown Complex predates HUP 2.0, said NEA, adding:

"HUP 2.0 is separately developed as a national programme for hawker centre infrastructure upgrading. NEA is determining the first batch of hawker centres that will undergo upgrading under this programme, and more details will be provided in due course."

Repairs and Redecoration

The existing scheme for hawker centre renovations, Repairs and Redecoration, sees hawker centres closing for around two to three months of works.

The frequency of such work is "every six to eight years", Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment told Parliament via a written reply to a Parliamentary Question in August 2023.

Hawkers are granted rental remission and could also get fee waivers.

NEA also assists interested stallholders who wish to apply for temporary stalls in other hawker centres during the period of closure.

Albert Centre at Queen Street Block 270 is one hawker centre currently undergoing Repairs and Redecoration, till May 4, 2025.

Alexandra Village Food Centre at Bukit Merah Lane 1 Block 120 will similarly close from Apr. 1, 2025 to Jun. 30, 2025.

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Top photo via chinatown.sg