Gillman Barracks a Reserve Site until 2025
Did you know? Gillman had Reserve Site status until the 2025 URA Master Plan rezoned it for Residential use; a mix of private and public housing.
It was supposed to be a lifestyle enclave that benefit current and future communities. Stated in the 2022 announcement: "Gillman Barracks will be transformed into a vibrant enclave. Families, cyclists, hikers, arts enthusiasts, nature lovers, as well as the working community and residents in Alexandra and Telok Blangah, and future residents at the earlier announced Greater Southern Waterfront, can look forward..."
Today, not only are we losing a distinctive place of identity and respite, but the housing plan extends BEYOND the barracks. The total site area of 47 hectares includes a biodiversity rich, hill forest habitat that's part of the Southern Ridges.
In my opinion, erasing spaces of public good feels like an urban planning blunder. I believe society needs a variety of spaces to thrive. Heritage isn't just buildings -- but about social cultural identity and natural heritage too. And I expected a successful nation to provide a better quality of life that includes third spaces and uplifting enclaves.
Human-wildlife conflict occurs when faunal habitat is removed or encroached. Monkeys have been sighted in Gillman forest and the adjacent nature reserve. That could become a new issue if deforestation continues and hundreds of species displaced or killed. Yes... that's how much biodiversity Gillman forest currently supports according to the EIA survey.
👉 Could the 47ha project be developed in a way that keeps our 22ha forest and existing identity nodes intact -- while adding new homes?
👉 Are housing projections made by the 2024 Committee of Supply still accurate today after considering:
• AI disruption to labour projections
• Economic uncertainty
• Climate change resilience
Near-term housing needs? Nearby are:
• Depot Lane Industrial Estate that was vacated in 2025 to make way for housing.
• Greater Southern Waterfront's Berlayar Estate alone will provide 10,000 new housing
• At least 8 other ongoing projects within 0.5km to 4km radius. Full list in petition.
It's also worth noting that Greater Southern Waterfront megaproject is 30km worth of brownfields along Singapore's southern coastline. That is plenty for future housing.
👉 Do we need PMO Prime Minister's Office to step in?
MND is bound by developmental targets. Therefore, there's a conflict of interest if the Ministry of National Development decides the footprint of forest preservation. Even more so when the current EIA framework that's supposed to guide urban planning excludes climate change resilience parameters. By the way, NParks is an entity under the MND (not MSE).
Unfortunately MSE seems to be out of the picture. Reaffirmed by the Minister of Sustainability and Environment too.
"When more than 20 parliamentary questions were filed by MPs from both sides of the House, it has clearly become more than a constituency matter. It has become a national policy question". I agree with the former Nominated Member of Parliament who said this on socials.
This discussion goes beyond Gillman. It is rightfully a national question about land-use policy islandwide. A good read in the Straits Times: Singapore's City In Nature vision needs more space for its forests suggests that the government stop viewing forests as a developmental loss, but for societal good.
So many people have voiced out. Ordinary people ❤️ across Singapore. Because we are saying that our remaining secondary forests and community havens are as valuable as the national monuments and other assets that are currently off-limits.
We are saying look elsewhere, look harder. Think outside the status quo. Reduce land sales for condo, purchase empty private land, renew aging estates, rezone other sites, design differently, there are other ways.