Bukit Merah residents can look forward to a transformation of their town centre and community spaces, alongside enhanced connectivity to green nodes such as the Rail Corridor and Southern Ridges. These improvements are part of the ongoing series of enhancements under the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme, which aims to bring city living close to nature. These, and other rejuvenation plans for Bukit Merah were announced by Second Minister for National Development and Adviser to Tanjong Pagar GRC GROs Ms Indranee Rajah, at the launch of the town’s ROH exhibition today.

2 The ROH programme was first announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2007. It is a comprehensive rejuvenation blueprint which brings together many agencies, including the Housing & Development Board (HDB), to renew and further develop existing HDB towns and estates to meet the changing needs of the community, while ensuring that our heartlands remain distinctive and endearing homes for Singaporeans. To date, 13 towns and estates have been identified for rejuvenation across four ROH batches – namely Punggol, Dawson and Yishun in 2007; East Coast, Hougang and Jurong Lake in 2011, Woodlands, Toa Payoh and Pasir Ris in 2015; and the latest – Bukit Merah, Ang Mo Kio, Queenstown and Choa Chu Kang – in 2020.

3 In drawing up the renewal plans for the fourth batch of ROH towns, HDB conducted a series of surveys and Focus Group Discussions with residents and stakeholders such as the local Merchants’ and Hawkers’ Associations, to seek their views and suggestions. Between 2020 and 2022, some 1,700 residents and community members from the four towns participated in these discussions, where they shared about the features they cherished most in their town, as well as gave suggestions on the improvements that they hoped to see. With their feedback, HDB has refined the plans to ensure that the improvements will benefit residents of all ages.

Renewal plans to reinvigorate Bukit Merah

4 Bukit Merah is made up of several estates – Redhill, Tiong Bahru, Telok Blangah, Mount Faber and a part of Tanjong Pagar. Over the decades, Bukit Merah has seen continuous improvements. Most of the older blocks of flats have been upgraded, even as new and more modern developments were added to the town. The latest renewal plans for Bukit Merah comprise several major improvements which will further reinvigorate the town.

Under the ROH plans, the various estates in Bukit Merah will be rejuvenated. (Credit: HDB)

Making key community spaces more inviting and inclusive

Refreshing the Town Centre

5 The Bukit Merah Town Centre – akin to the heart of the town – will be given a makeover to enhance its attractiveness and provide a more comfortable shopping experience for residents:

1. A new and larger sheltered event space, with seating, will replace the current sheltered stage next to the Rubikon building. This will offer a more conducive space for larger community events such as performances, festive bazaars and fitness activities, come rain or shine.
   
   
   
   Top: Current Town Centre.
   Bottom: Residents can look forward to a new sheltered Town Plaza at the Town Centre. (Credit: HDB)


2. The pedestrian malls at the town centre will be upgraded to include more seating areas for residents to catch up over a chat or take a break from their shopping. Where possible, new play areas will be built along the pedestrian malls to enliven the area. Residents will have the opportunity to co-create some of these community spaces, and HDB will reach out to them with the details when ready.
   
    
   Left: Current open area next to Bukit Merah Central Food Centre
   Right: Pedestrian malls at the Town Centre will be enhanced with more seating and spaces for play, rest, and community bonding. (Credit: HDB)


3. New pedestrian and cycling paths, as well as sheltered linkways, will be added along Redhill Close to make it safer and more convenient for residents and visitors to travel between the Bukit Merah Town Centre and Redhill MRT station. Landscaping along these paths will also make the journey more pleasant.
   
   
   The connection from Redhill MRT via Redhill Close to the Bukit Merah Town Centre will be enhanced with dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths, sheltered linkways and landscaping. (Credit: HDB)


4. Come 2026, the opening of two new MRT stations – Keppel and Cantonment Stations of the Circle Line – will further enhance connectivity and make it easier for residents to connect to the rail network. These new stations will close the loop to Marina Bay station, bringing greater convenience to the residents and commuters in Bukit Merah.

Upgrading the Neighbourhood Centres

6 The common areas of six¹ existing Neighbourhood Centres (NCs) in Bukit Merah will also be refreshed with more amenities such as outdoor seating, play facilities, pocket greens and spaces for community events, to create a more enjoyable experience for shoppers and residents. For example, the open space next to Blk 121 at Alexandra Village NC will be given a facelift with new facilities such as play areas, as well as landscaped seating areas.

 
Left: Current open space at Alexandra Village NC.
Right: Upgraded space with refreshed paving, pocket parks, barrier-free accessibility and play areas. (Credit HDB)

Making Our Living Environment More Senior-Friendly

7 In Bukit Merah, more than one third of residents are aged 60 years old and above. Hence, a key focus of the renewal plans for Bukit Merah is to make the homes and neighbourhoods more senior-friendly such that residents can go about their daily activities and lead active and healthy lifestyles:

1. The common spaces in the Town Centre, NCs and housing estates will be upgraded with sheltered walkways, ramps and non-slip flooring, as well as more seating areas. This will enable residents to get around safely while they navigate Bukit Merah’s hilly terrain.


2. Across various parks in Bukit Merah, active ageing amenities such as therapeutic gardens, fitness trails/corners, and exercise equipment will be added to promote healthy living and facilitate social interaction among senior residents.


3. To make wayfinding easier, signages with larger and more colourful fonts and distinctive murals on building facades will also be installed.

8 HDB will be engaging grassroots organisations and senior residents to refine the implementation plans for these enhancements.

Connecting Bukit Merah to nature: better access to new and refreshed green spaces

9 Celebrated for its urban character, Bukit Merah is also well-known for its ample green spaces which residents visit regularly. Residents have shared that they would like to see improved access to the scenic 24-km long Rail Corridor, which passes through Bukit Merah, as well as parks around the town. With this in mind, HDB, together with the National Parks Board (NParks), has planned the following enhancements:

1. A new pocket park next to the existing multi-storey carpark at Block 119 Bukit Merah Central, together with new cycling paths at the Town Centre, will provide seamless connectivity from the Town Centre to the Rail Corridor. This will also make it more convenient for nature and fitness enthusiasts using the Rail Corridor to make a stop at the Town Centre and enjoy its facilities, adding footfall and vibrancy in the area.
   
    
   Besides providing seamless connectivity to the Rail Corridor from the town centre, the new pocket park will also be fitted with sheltered rest areas. (Credit: HDB)


2. The pedestrian paths along Henderson Road, which connects Alexandra Canal, the Southern Ridges and Telok Blangah Estate to the future Greater Southern Waterfront, will also be enhanced. New rest points with landscaped seating areas will be added along the paths, so that residents can take a break during their walk and make new friends with other residents and visitors.
   
   
   A rest stop along Henderson Road provides a better walking experience for residents. (Credit: HDB)
   
   
   Artist impression of new park within the future Keppel housing area which forms part of the Greater Southern Waterfront (Credit: HDB)


3. At the Telok Blangah Hill Park and Mount Faber Park managed by NParks, fitness amenities will be upgraded to encourage active living. Residents can also look forward to enhanced access and better wayfinding to the parks.
    
   Left: Current access to Mount Faber Park near Blk 31 Telok Blangah Rise
   Right: Residents can look forward to enhanced access, better wayfinding, and upgraded fitness facilities in the park. (Credit: HDB)


4. Meanwhile, improvements at neighbourhood parks like Alexandra Hill Park and Bukit Purmei Park will include intensified greenery, new sheltered pavilions, and multi-generational facilities.
   
   
   Neighbourhood parks such as Alexandra Hill Park will also be upgraded with more greenery and multi-generational facilities. (Credit: HDB)

New housing developments with facilities

10 To meet the strong housing demand, HDB has been introducing new housing projects in Bukit Merah to enable young families to live closer to their parents, while also bringing new life into this estate.

11 Over the past two years, HDB has launched four new Build-to-Order (BTO) projects in Bukit Merah – Alexandra Vale, Havelock Hillside and Bukit Merah Ridge in 2022, as well as Telok Blangah Beacon in 2021. A fifth site at Prince Charles Crescent will be launched soon.

12 As part of plans to kickstart the transformation of the Greater Southern Waterfront, the former Keppel Club golf course will also be developed to provide about 9,000 homes, including some 6,000 public housing units. The first BTO project at the Greater Southern Waterfront is slated for launch within the next five years.

13 When completed, these new public housing projects are expected to offer about 10,700 flats in total, offering new and younger families the opportunity of living in Bukit Merah, and making the town even more vibrant. These housing developments will also inject new commercial amenities, social and communal facilities, and neighbourhood parks for the enjoyment of all residents.

Telok Blangah Beacon will be built with new community plaza, supermarket, market and hawker centre. The development will be integrated with the existing NC, Telok Blangah Mall, providing even more retail and dining options when it is completed in early 2027. (Credit: HDB)

Alexandra Vale will feature a new linear park with outdoor play and fitness facilities. (Credit: HDB)

Strengthening Bukit Merah’s identity by celebrating its history

14 During the engagement sessions, many residents spoke fondly of Bukit Merah’s unique charm and character, likening the town to a “living museum”. To strengthen Bukit Merah’s identity, HDB together with other agencies, will explore ways to incorporate aspects of Bukit Merah’s history into the town, such as through thematic playgrounds, wall murals, as well as educational boards across the town. For example, the upcoming Alexandra Vale BTO development will feature a mural bearing a swordfish motif, inspired by local folklore about how Redhill got its name. HDB will be seeking residents’ views on how to best design some of these heritage elements around the town.

Residents invited to give feedback on ROH proposals

15 When completed, the rejuvenation of Bukit Merah is set to benefit close to 130,500 residents, and even more visitors. Residents can look forward to the plans being implemented within the next 5 to 10 years. The actual implementation timeframe for individual proposals will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the project.

16 The detailed ROH plans for Bukit Merah will be exhibited at the Bukit Merah Town Centre from 17 September 2023, before roving to three other locations to make it convenient for more residents to view the plans:

17 Residents are invited to visit the exhibitions and share their thoughts and feedback on the ROH plans. With the feedback, HDB will refine the proposals together with the relevant government agencies, such that the eventual rejuvenation of the town will benefit as many residents as possible. The rejuvenation plans for Bukit Merah are also available on HDB InfoWEB (https://assets.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/hdb_roh4/bukit-merah.html), where residents can share their feedback online.

¹Alexandra Village NC, Beo Crescent NC, Brickworks NC and Bukit Merah View NC will be upgraded with new facilities such as seating and enhanced landscaping. Meanwhile, Redhill Lane NC and Tiong Bahru Orchid NC are currently being upgraded to spruce up the common areas and introduce new recreational corners and spaces for events.