Plans for mixed-use complex above Hougang MRT station

New homes also slated to be built in Mount Pleasant, Newton and Lakeside

- Ng Keng Gene

A commercial and residential development with a bus interchange is being planned for a large vacant site above Hougang MRT station, while sites for new homes are being prepared across Singapore in areas such as Mount Pleasant, Newton and Lakeside.

The Hougang development will support demand for homes in the area and allow residents to benefit from the upcoming transport node and new commercial amenities, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in a note accompanying a proposed amendment to the agency's Master Plan 2019 that was published on Oct 28.

As part of the amendment, a site of around 4.7ha in size - equivalent to about 6 1/2 football fields - was created for the mixed-use development and given a gross plot ratio of 2.5. This can yield up to 117,500 sq m in gross floor area if the site is used for a single development, subject to the authorities' approval.

The site is made up of two plots. The first is a vacant area around 4ha in size that is currently zoned for commercial and residential use with a gross plot ratio of three. The second is a reserve site that houses the HDB Hougang Branch office building, next to Hougang Mall.

The 4.7ha site sits directly above Exit B of Hougang station on the North East Line and will also be connected to the Cross Island Line when the interchange station is ready in 2030.

The URA masterplan - a statutory document - guides development in Singapore for the next 10 to 15 years.

The 4.7ha site is one of three large plots of land near Hougang MRT station that are zoned for new homes, but all three plots have yet to be developed for residential use.

URA's plans for Hougang come amid recent news that new developments will be added near other MRT stations in HDB towns, such as Tampines and Bishan.