NHB to study if LKY's Oxley Road home is worthy of preservation

It will examine if site has architectural, historical and heritage significance

- Ng Wei Kai

The National Heritage Board (NHB) will carry out a study of 38 Oxley Road, the site of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's house, to assess if it is worthy of preservation as a national monument.

In a statement on Oct 24, NHB said the study will determine if the site "has national historical, heritage and architectural significance as to be worthy of preservation".

A 2018 ministerial committee report had assessed that the building has architectural, heritage and historical significance, it said.

The report had also concluded that while Mr Lee's preference was for the building to be demolished, he was prepared to accept options other than demolition. This was provided that suitable arrangements were made to ensure that the building was refurbished and kept in a habitable state and the family's privacy was protected, NHB added.

NHB noted that Mr Lee Hsien Yang, the current owner of 38 Oxley Road, had made an application on Oct 21 to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to demolish the house.

Demolishing the house now will rule out a proper and full consideration of the options, NHB added.

In response to media queries, the URA said it has deferred the evaluation of Mr Lee Hsien Yang's application, given that NHB plans to study the site.