Redevelopment ideas for Paya Lebar Airbase site include a heritage district and sustainably powered town

With the Paya Lebar Airbase (PLAB) being relocated to Tengah Air Base in the 2030s, the current site could be redeveloped into a heritage district built around existing infrastructure such as former passenger terminal buildings.

This is just one of the proposals gathered from the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Long-Term Plan Review. 

The redevelopment of PLAB comes under URA’s long-term plan and looks into potential ideas for the 800ha of land, a space larger than Ang Mo Kio town. 

It was done with help from the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) and Singapore Institute of Planners (SIP) proposing ideas to redevelop the PLAB site for future needs.

The site has been proposed to be developed into a new generation town containing amenities that will cater to the needs of its future residents. For example, the site’s existing 3.8km long runway could be repurposed into a community space such as a running track.

Other proposals include integrated live-work areas that provide various uses within a single building and people-centric mobility networks such as only allowing autonomous vehicles and active mobility transport in neighbourhoods. 

There was also a proposal suggesting powering the town sustainably by supporting its energy needs through renewable sources of energy like solar farms and waste-to-energy plants and factoring in environmental concerns while planning future developments.

The proposed ideas and concepts will be studied in greater detail and considered for the development of the PLAB’s future master plan.