Kallang Distripark set to be redeveloped for thousands of private homes

Kallang Distripark will be redeveloped for private housing and is being prepared to do so.

It is currently a privately owned disused rubber factory converted into a warehouse site, The Straits Times reported.

On Aug. 14, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) published a proposed amendment to its Master Plan.

This involved introducing new roads, as well as carving up the site into several housing plots and a new neighbourhood park.

Private development proposal

A URA spokesperson said in response to Mothership's queries that the proposed amendments are to facilitate a private development proposal received by the agency.

The spokesperson said: "The specific use for the Reserve site has yet to be determined. More details, including the development timeline will be shared when ready."

URA has engaged the owner on the potential to retain one of the warehouses as a heritage marker within the proposed future park, the spokesperson added.

Noting that studies on this proposal are ongoing, the spokesperson added: "Where physical retention is not possible, agencies will work with the owner and relevant stakeholders to document and commemorate the history of the place through heritage interpretation initiatives, such as digital documentation or storyboards."

According to ST, the 13-hectare site has been zoned for housing since as early as 2003.

It is owned by entities associated with Lee Rubber Company, whose founder was Lee Kong Chian, a Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist.

With a portion of the site being freehold, the rest is on a 99-year lease expiring in 2067, ST reported.

It added that its attempts to reach Lee Rubber Company for comment were unsuccessful.

3 housing plots

ST reported that three iconic octagonal buildings, the Lee Rubber Godowns, are included at the site.

The site will see three housing plots being introduced at the site under proposed plans, with two meant purely for residential use.

Located adjacent to Kallang Bahru, the larger one is about 3.6 hectares in size, sitting largely on freehold land.

Property analysts estimated the site to yield about 1,200 condominium units, ST reported.

According to analysts, the other residential plot can have about 450 to 550 condo units built there.

The proposed zoning for the third housing plot on leasehold land includes commercial use on its first storey.

ST reported that it is about 2.4 hectares in size, with analysts estimating that it can contain about 600 to 800 condo units.

The rest of the site includes a 2-hectare park, new roads to facilitate access to the planned housing developments.

It also includes a 1.8-hectare reserve site where a specific use has yet to be determined.