Farrer Park site to be redeveloped into public housing estate integrated with sports and recreational facilities

A 10ha brownfield site in Farrer Park that houses sport facilities will be redeveloped into a new housing estate that will see 1,600 new public flats integrated with comprehensive sports and recreation facilities. 

The plans were announced on Monday (Apr 25) by the Housing & Development Board (HDB), Sport Singapore (SportSG) and the Urban Redevelopment Authority. 

The flats are slated to launch within the next three years. 

The site is located along Dorset Road, Keng Lee Road, Hampshire Road and Race Course Road, and is in between Little India and Farrer Park MRT stations.

Up to 20 per cent of the site will be set aside as open spaces for sports and recreational uses, to capture the rich sporting heritage of Farrer Park. This includes an approximately 1.2ha central green space comprising a field and park, extended via a precinct green. 

Sport facilities will also be incorporated with the Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) in the estate, which will be specially designed so that the ground floor can be set aside for sporting activities. 

Other recreational facilities such as three-generation playgrounds and fitness corners will also be available around the estate.

A jogging track will also weave through the entire new housing estate, to connect the various sports and recreational facilities. 

The former boxing gym will also be retained and converted to a multi-purpose community sporting space.

However, the Farrer Park swimming complex will not be retained, despite being mentioned so in the 2019 Draft master Plan Exhibition. Instead, it will instead be replaced by a new sports centre which will include swimming pools and other sporting facilities.

This is because studies done by agencies have indicated that retaining the existing swimming pool will not be feasible due to various technical considerations. 

Aside from the sports facilities, residents can also enjoy new commercial and social communal facilities in the housing developments, such as precinct shops and a childcare centre, to meet residents’ daily needs.

The HDB, URA and SportSG said it will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders to enhance the character and identity of the estate, with more details to be shared when ready. 

The Farrer Park site has a rich and multifaceted history. Singapore’s first racecourse was established there in 1843, while the area has been closely associated with Singapore’s sporting heritage since the 1950s when it served as a training ground for many past and present national athletes.