HDB to redevelop Gillman Barracks & Sunset Way for housing

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has announced plans to develop new homes at Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way.

To redevelop the sites sensitively, HDB commissioned studies and engaged stakeholders, including nature and heritage groups, to identify measures to mitigate the impacts of development.

The studies, published on Jul. 10, will guide the conceptual plans for the two housing developments before detailed planning begins.

Gillman Barracks will be redeveloped into a residential estate comprising both public and private homes, while the Sunset Way site in Clementi will be developed for public housing.

In response to Mothership's queries, HDB said that the number of dwelling units will take into account the land size, the study findings, and public feedback. More details on the plans for the sites will be shared when ready.

Environmental and heritage studies conducted

Gillman Barracks was built in 1935 as a British military garrison to house servicemen and their families.

It has served many purposes, including housing the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) battalions and acting as the site for St Andrew's Junior College and the Pasir Panjang Vocational Institute.

Currently, offices, arts, and food and beverage establishments occupy the brownfield site.

To prepare for the redevelopment of Gillman Barracks, HDB commissioned environmental and heritage studies covering a 47-hectare site.

This comprised an approximately 40-hectare development area bounded by Depot Road, Alexandra Road, Telok Blangah Road/West Coast Highway and Telok Blangah Street 31 as well as a seven-hectare green area north of Telok Blangah Heights.

What are the Gillman Barracks buildings that will be retained?

The heritage study assessed all 86 buildings across seven clusters, evaluating each for its historical, architectural and technological, social and communal, and contextual value.

All four buildings assessed to be of "Exceptional" heritage significance will be retained.

These are Blk 3 within the Preston Road School Cluster, and 6, 9 and 22 Lock Road in the Lock Road cluster.

21 of the 27 buildings rated "High" significance will also be retained, while the remaining six will make way for essential infrastructure such as roads.

4 clusters to be largely retained

HDB also plans to largely retain four historically and architecturally significant clusters: Preston Road Housing Cluster, Preston Road School Cluster, Lock Road Cluster, and Malan Road Cluster.

The Preston Road Housing Cluster comprises 16 garrison-style semi-detached houses built between 1935 and 1939 and used to house military personnel and former Alexandra School staff.

The school was the first school constructed in the area to serve the British army community.

The Lock Road Cluster has one of the last remaining sections of original 1935 barracks built for British Infantry regiments.

The Malan Road Cluster's building served utility and support functions, including workshops, garages, stores and medical facilities.

Based on the studies and input from stakeholders, HDB's conceptual plan proposes that the former barrack buildings along Lock Road and Malan Road can be repurposed to provide commercial offerings and amenities.

How does HDB plan to reduce biodiversity impacts?

The environmental study found Gillman Barracks contains a mix of forest, scrubland and urban vegetation.

Researchers identified 293 plant species and 178 fauna species, of which 22 plant species and 11 fauna species were of conservation significance and largely concentrated in the native-dominated secondary forest and streams.

Animals include the violet cuckoo and bamboo bat.

To minimise biodiversity impacts, HDB plans to safeguard ecological corridors with a minimum width of 30 metres, retain the forest stream and most of the native-dominated secondary forest within the green area, and implement an Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan (EMMP).

The EMMP includes a phased directional clearance plan allowing animals to move to adjacent greenery before site work

Together with a new green link planted with native species, the retained ecological corridors will create an approximately 8ha green area connecting Telok Blangah Hill Park with Berlayer Creek and Labrador Nature Reserve.

According to HDB, the continuous forest structure will help support bird movement and attract species such as the Straw-headed Bulbul.

Sunset Way site development

An environmental study was also carried out for the approximately 23-hectare Sunset Way greenfield site in Clementi (Maju Forest).

Based on its findings, HDB proposes retaining about 8 hectares of the study area to provide refuge for wildlife and facilitate fauna movement.

The retained area will include a natural freshwater stream and its surrounding riparian buffer, and the area around the Old Jurong Line where a nature trail is being studied.

Riparian refers to a strip of land directly bordering a body of water and has high biodiversity value.

Before construction begins, plants of conservation significance within the development area will be salvaged where feasible, and phased site clearance will also be implemented.

The future estate will also incorporate biophilic landscaping using native plants to maintain ecological connectivity.

Together with Clementi Neighbourhood Park, the future Clementi Nature Trail and Old Jurong Line Nature Trail, the green spaces are intended to provide residents with recreational options.

Public feedback

The full environmental and heritage study reports for both sites have been published on HDB InfoWEB.

Members of the public can submit feedback from Jul. 10 to Aug. 6, 2026.

HDB said feedback received during the consultation period will be considered as it refines development plans for both sites.