S'pore, Johor Regent Tunku Ismail to swop land plots near Botanic Gardens

A 13ha plot of prime land abutting Singapore Botanic Gardens will come into the Government's possession, following a land swop deal between the Republic and the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

- Ng Keng Gene

In exchange, Tunku Ismail will receive an 8.5ha piece of state land near the 13ha plot, which he can develop, subject to regulatory approvals.

The exchange involving the freehold land in Tyersall Park — an area privately owned by the Johor royal family since the 1800s — is expected to be completed later in 2025.

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced the deal on June 10.

Tyersall Park is the historical Singapore residence of the sultan of Johor, and Singapore has over the years purchased some land from the royal family.

Portions of the land that Singapore bought from the family have been developed as the Botanic Gardens' Tyersall and Gallop extensions.

On June 10, the agencies said Tunku Ismail currently owns 21.1ha of land in the area, including the 13ha plot that is part of the swop.

The remaining 8.1ha of land sits between the 13ha plot and the 8.5ha plot that he will receive following the swop.

The agencies said the land swop is "a transaction between the Singapore Government and a private individual", and added that the Malaysian and Johor state governments were not involved in negotiations.

These plots are some of the most prime land on the island, near designated good class bungalow areas.

One mansion in nearby Gallop Park sold for $58 million in January.

In 2021, Bloomberg reported that Tunku Ismail had plans to develop the vacant plots into a "multibillion-dollar luxury residential development". The report, which cited unnamed sources, said he had been seeking permission to develop these high-end homes.