Redevelopment of estate will introduce about 5,500 new flats in the longer term

Tanglin Halt estate, one of Singapore’s oldest public housing estates in Queenstown will be redeveloped and transformed into an attractive housing estate with new amenities, designed to benefit both existing and future residents. Plans will include a new development that integrates housing with a hawker centre, market and polyclinic all under one roof. When fully redeveloped, Tanglin Halt is expected to offer up to 5,500 new flats, providing more housing options for Singaporeans.

2 The redevelopment plans for Tanglin Halt estate were officially announced by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Communications & Information, Mr Tan Kiat How at the HDB Professional Engagement and Knowledge-sharing (PEAK) Forum on 19 October 2023.

Redevelopment of Tanglin Halt Estate – A Celebration of Old and New

3 Tanglin Halt estate was identified for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) in 2014, the largest SERS exercise to date involving some 3,480 households. Residents were offered new flats in the nearby Dawson estate, and have since moved into their new home.

4 HDB will progressively redevelop Tanglin Halt to ensure that it stays vibrant and attractive. The redevelopment plans will focus on introducing new amenities and facilities for existing and future residents, and improving connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists between Commonwealth MRT Station and the Rail Corridor. Additionally, the greenery will be enhanced, and as much of Tanglin Halt’s history and heritage will be retained as possible.

Conceptual plan for Tanglin Halt’s redevelopment

New Tanglin Halt Integrated Development

5 A key feature of the redevelopment plans is the new Tanglin Halt Integrated Development that will be located on the site of the former Tanglin Halt Neighbourhood Centre, which housed the former Commonwealth Drive Food Centre and existing Tanglin Halt Market. Most stallholders from the former Commonwealth Drive Food Centre have relocated to the new Margaret Drive Hawker Centre sited within the SkyResidence @ Dawson development, while Tanglin Halt Market is still in operation.

6 To minimise disruption to stallholders in the Tanglin Halt Market, the Tanglin Halt Integrated Development will be constructed in two phases. Phase 1, which includes the new hawker centre and market, will commence next year on the site of the former Commonwealth Drive Food Centre. Once phase 1 is complete and the stall owners have moved to the new integrated development, construction for phase 2 will begin on the site of the existing Tanglin Halt Market.

Phased construction of the new Tanglin Halt Integrated Development

7 When completed, the new landmark development will integrate public housing with a hawker centre and market, and also house the redeveloped Queenstown Polyclinic. In addition, there will be shops and social communal facilities to cater to the daily needs of residents. These amenities were suggested by former Tanglin Halt residents, shop tenants and stallholders during interviews conducted by HDB. These interviews allowed HDB to document residents’ memories of their estate and understand the enhancements that residents hoped redevelopment would bring.

Artist’s impression of Tanglin Halt Integrated Development

8 The new Tanglin Halt Integrated Development will be designed to incorporate elements of well-remembered spaces. These include the iconic hexagonal shape of the former Commonwealth Drive Food Centre that was built to house roadside hawkers, the barrel vault shape of the existing Tanglin Halt Market at Blk 48A Tanglin Halt Road, and the open community atmosphere of the courtyard spaces of the former Tanglin Halt Neighbourhood Centre.

(Left) Artist’s Impression of commercial node within the barrel vault structure; (Right) Artist’s impression of the Courtyard space at the new Tanglin Halt Integrated Development

New public housing developments at Tanglin Halt

9 HDB will progressively offer up to 5,500 new flats in Tanglin Halt estate to provide more housing options for Singaporeans. The first public housing project, Tanglin Halt Cascadia, was recently launched in the October 2023 sales exercise. In 2024, HDB expects to launch additional new flats as part of the new Tanglin Halt Integrated Development. Further details will be shared when ready. Besides offering new and younger families the opportunity of living in Tanglin Halt, these housing developments will also introduce new commercial amenities as well as social and communal facilities in the estate, benefitting all residents in the surrounding Queenstown area.

Artist’s Impression: Aerial view of Tanglin Halt Cascadia (left) and Tanglin Halt Integrated Development (right), which will inject vibrancy to the existing public housing developments, Commonwealth 10 and Commonwealth View.

Linear Park to connect Commonwealth MRT station and the Rail Corridor

10 In the longer term, to enhance connectivity, a linear park will be built between Commonwealth MRT Station and the Rail Corridor, providing residents with a more convenient and pleasant pathway to walk and cycle amidst lush greenery. Commonwealth Drive will also be realigned, with the existing road being transformed into a pedestrian-friendly zone equipped with dedicated cycling and pedestrian footpaths.

(Left) Existing Commonwealth Drive; (Right) Artist’s Impression: Dedicated cycling paths and pedestrian footpaths will improve connectivity between Commonwealth MRT Station and the Rail Corridor

Preserving Tanglin Halt’s heritage

11 In carrying out the redevelopment plans, special efforts will be made to preserve as much of Tanglin Halt’s history and heritage as possible. This includes keeping the ten-story height for new housing blocks near the Rail Corridor, in homage to the old “chap lau chu” (or 10-storey house in Hokkien). Additionally, key heritage elements that residents cherish will be integrated into the redeveloped communal spaces via street furniture and murals.

12 Agencies are also exploring the adaptive use of some of the residential blocks in Tanglin Halt that hold historical significance. For example, Blocks 69 and 70, which were built by the former Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), could be repurposed for other social-communal uses.

Artist’s impression of a proposed park and retained SIT blocks as a new community space.

13 The redevelopment plans aim to retain and enhance as much of the existing greenery as possible, to enable residents to enjoy the benefits of living close to nature. Along the segment of the Rail Corridor that runs along the edge of Tanglin Halt, landscaping and recreational facilities will be introduced, letting residents to connect nature while bonding with family and friends. There will also be a new park near the Rail Corridor to serve as a community space and pit-stop for residents and visitors.

Keeping Older Estates Vibrant & Liveable

14 The redevelopment plans for Tanglin Halt estate will complement the broader rejuvenation plans for Queenstown. As part of these plans, more housing, greenery, new amenities and facilities will be injected into the estate, while preserving as much of Tanglin Halt’s history and heritage as possible. This will ensure that the future Tanglin Halt continues to be vibrant, livable and resilient to meet the evolving needs of its residents.

Redeveloped Tanglin Halt Estate to Have New Hawker Centre and Market, and Polyclinic