# Gillman Barracks, Sunset Way plans not fixed as government weighs competing needs: Alvin Tan

- **Source:** Channel NewsAsia
- **Published:** 2026-08-04T05:32:00.000Z
- **Author:** Matthew Mohan
- **Original:** https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/sunset-way-maju-forest-gillman-barracks-parliament-alvin-tan-6296786
- **Topics:** Government & Policy, Investment & Capital Markets, Sustainability & PropTech

## Featured rationale

The projects could add near-term housing supply, while possible adjustments to greenery, heritage retention and development layouts may influence each future neighbourhood’s scale and character.

## AI summary

Housing development at Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way will proceed because both sites are zoned residential, although final layouts and conservation provisions remain under consultation.

## Original article

SINGAPORE: Amid a public outcry over the proposed redevelopment of Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan reiterated that plans are not finalised as he detailed the considerations and dilemmas in balancing needs "within our limited space". Speaking in parliament on Tuesday (Aug 4), Mr Tan said the environmental and heritage studies being done for both sites were not meant to justify a detailed plan that was already fixed. "They are an integral part of the consultation process through which the plan is shaped," he added. The formal consultation period for the environmental impact assessments and heritage impact assessments ends on Thursday, but engagement with stakeholders will continue before the authorities decide how to carry out the development, Mr Tan said. "This could involve adjustments to the development layout and the amount of greenery and heritage to conserve." Mr Tan was responding to 18 questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) on planned housing developments in Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way. In a discussion that lasted close to 70 minutes, a total of 11 MPs and two Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) also rose to speak. The government would always try to make the best use of existing land and safeguard important natural and heritage assets, but there would be times when difficult trade-offs could not be avoided, he added. When that happens, agencies must be clear about why a site needs to be developed, deliberate over where to build and take care over how it is built, Mr Tan said. This meant being honest with Singaporeans about the choices involved, listening to feedback and refining plans, before the government makes a final decision in the interest of Singapore and Singaporeans.

"The question before us is not whether housing, greenery or heritage matters. They all do. The challenge is how we balance these needs responsibly within our limited space," he said. "We will and must always make the best use of existing land and safeguard our most important natural and heritage assets. But there will be times when we cannot avoid difficult trade-offs." The Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced on Jul 10 that it would build new homes at Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way in Clementi following the completion of environmental and heritage studies. About 15ha and at least 10ha of forest may be cleared at Maju Forest at Sunset Way and Gillman Barracks, respectively, to make room for these housing developments. PROCEEDING WITH "GREAT CARE" Mr Tan said the authorities do not start with sites that have "significant heritage or ecological value", but first look at whether they can make use of vacant land or better use of existing land. "The next question then is how do we build responsibly when it is necessary to develop a site? We proceed with great care where a site has significant ecological or heritage value," he said.

This is when government agencies appoint independent external consultants to conduct an environmental impact assessment, heritage impact assessment, or both, Mr Tan added. "Our general approach is to avoid impact where we can, where we can, reduce them where we cannot, and mitigate those that remain. We then publish the findings, the potential impact and proposed mitigation measures," said Mr Tan. "This allows residents and the wider public to study the proposal and give their feedback and views." Through these studies, the consultants establish what is on the site today, assess how the proposed development could affect these features, as well as recommend how to avoid, reduce or mitigate potential impact to the site. For an environmental impact assessment, the consultants also propose a preliminary environmental management and monitoring plan, which sets out mitigation measures, monitoring arrangements and reporting requirements that will apply during development. "Agencies then consider the studies and feedback before finalising the detailed plans," Mr Tan said, adding that these assessments "are not meant to justify a detailed plan that is already fixed".

Built in 1935, Gillman Barracks was a British military garrison before being repurposed into an arts precinct in 2012. It is now home to art galleries, bars, restaurants and lifestyle businesses. The government announced in March 2024 that it was studying the possibility of introducing a new residential neighbourhood at Gillman Barracks. To redevelop the Gillman Barracks site sensitively, HDB commissioned a study to understand the site’s ecology and heritage, and identify measures to mitigate the impact of development. The studies covered an area of 47ha – comprising an approximately 40ha development area bounded by Depot Road, Alexandra Road, Telok Blangah Road/West Coast Highway and Telok Blangah Street 31, as well as a 7ha green area north of Telok Blangah Heights. WHAT TO RETAIN AND CONSERVE? In a supplementary question, MP Christopher de Souza (PAP-Holland-Bukit Timah) asked if the authorities could look at alternative sites close to Maju Forest, including a large worksite for the Cross Island Line at Clementi Avenue 5. "Taking a leaf out of Dover Forest, and the debate I had some years ago, we managed to find alternative housing sites that preserved half of Dover Forest and it was a win-win situation. So I invite the good minister to look at this as a blank sheet of paper to see whether we can achieve such a win-win," he said. Mr Tan said the site would be considered for residential development after the MRT line is complete. "We do our best to optimise the land use and to tap the vacant land and brownfield sites where possible, but there are no other suitable sites to meet the near-term demand in the vicinity," he said. MP Kenneth Tiong (WP-Aljunied) pointed out that the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) has designated 2026 as the year of climate adaptation, signalling it as a national priority, and asked why the ministry has "not been seen leading and advocating" for Maju Forest. Mr Tan said he disagreed with the characterisation. "The government makes decisions across different ministries – we speak to MSE, MSE gives us the feedback. But at the end of the day, we have to make decisions based on the best interest of Singapore and Singaporeans." Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said that suggesting her ministry take a different position from the Ministry of National Development is "not how we work as a government". “For any one of us standing in front of here presenting a position to government, the rest of us are in support. So I think if a WP member is hoping for a fight between ministers, I think they will be disappointed,” she said.

Workers' Party NCMP Andre Low also asked if not going ahead with the development plans remains an option for the authorities. "I made it quite clear that the sites we that mentioned earlier on, Sunset Way as well as Gillman Barracks, have already been zoned for residential use under our master plan," said Mr Tan. "And they have been set aside for housing, so we will proceed." At the same time, how the authorities build is important, he added, which is why studies have been carried out, with mitigation "as best as possible" of the ecological and heritage impact to the sites. When it comes to Gillman Barracks, the authorities are studying how to retain most of the native-dominated secondary forest within the site and looking at how to maintain ecological connections in the east-west and north-south directions, said Mr Tan. The east-west connection would link Telok Blangah Hill Park and HortPark, while the north-south connection would comprise an ecological corridor, supporting the movement of birds towards Berlayar Creek and Labrador Nature Reserve. Given the "distinctive heritage character" of Gillman Barracks, authorities are also studying the retention of all buildings assessed to be of exceptional heritage significance, as well as most of those assessed to be of high heritage significance. "This would allow the future neighbourhood to build on the character and charm of the former colonial buildings. But where a heritage building cannot be retained because of practical site constraints, we will explore other ways to preserve its history," said Mr Tan. At Sunset Way, the retention of a "significant stretch of greenery" along the former Jurong Railway Line, along with the retention of a natural stream and its surrounding riparian buffer are being examined, he added. Mr Tan stressed that the government values heritage and green spaces, but also want Singaporeans and future generations to have access to affordable public housing. "I wish we had an abundance of land, so we can provide all of these without having to make trade-offs. But that is not our reality," he said. "Our choices are narrower than those faced by larger countries. We thus have to make the best of our limited land."

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: openai_codex_cli

### Alvin Tan：政府权衡相互竞争的需求，Gillman Barracks和Sunset Way计划尚未确定

国家发展部政务部长表示，虽然环境和历史影响评估的正式咨询期将于8月6日结束，但与利益相关者的沟通将继续。

新加坡：在公众对Gillman Barracks和Sunset Way拟议重建发出强烈反对之际，国家发展部政务部长Alvin Tan重申，相关计划尚未最终确定，并详细说明了在“我们有限的空间内”平衡需求时的考量和两难。Tan先生周二（8月4日）在国会发言时表示，针对两个地点进行的环境和历史研究，并不是为了证明一个已经固定的详细计划是合理的。“它们是咨询过程的组成部分，计划正是通过这一过程被塑造，”他补充说。环境影响评估和历史影响评估的正式咨询期将于周四结束，但Tan先生表示，在当局决定如何实施开发之前，与利益相关者的沟通将继续。“这可能涉及对开发布局以及需保留的绿化和历史遗产数量作出调整。”Tan先生是在回应国会议员（MPs）就Gillman Barracks和Sunset Way规划住房发展提出的18个问题。讨论持续近70分钟，共有11名国会议员和两名非选区议员（NCMPs）也起身发言。他补充说，政府将始终努力善用现有土地，并保护重要的自然和历史资产，但有时难以避免艰难取舍。Tan先生表示，当这种情况发生时，机构必须清楚说明为什么需要开发某个地点，审慎考虑在哪里建设，并谨慎处理如何建设。这意味着要坦诚地向新加坡人说明所涉及的选择，听取反馈并完善计划，然后政府再根据新加坡和新加坡人的利益作出最终决定。

“摆在我们面前的问题不是住房、绿化或历史是否重要。它们都重要。挑战在于我们如何在有限空间内负责任地平衡这些需求，”他说。“我们将并且必须始终善用现有土地，并保护我们最重要的自然和历史资产。但有时，我们无法避免艰难的取舍。”建屋发展局（HDB）于7月10日宣布，在完成环境和历史研究后，将在Gillman Barracks和Clementi的Sunset Way建设新住房。Maju Forest at Sunset Way和Gillman Barracks可能分别清除约15公顷和至少10公顷森林，以为这些住房发展项目腾出空间。以“极其谨慎”的方式推进 Tan先生表示，当局不会从具有“重大历史或生态价值”的地点开始，而是首先研究是否可以利用空置土地，或更好地利用现有土地。“接下来的问题是，当有必要开发一个地点时，我们如何负责任地建设？在一个地点具有重大生态或历史价值时，我们会以极其谨慎的方式推进，”他说。

Tan先生补充说，这时政府机构会委任独立外部顾问进行环境影响评估、历史影响评估，或两者兼有。“我们的一般做法是，能避免影响的地方就避免，无法避免的地方就减少影响，并缓解剩余影响。随后我们会公布调查结果、潜在影响和拟议缓解措施，”Tan先生说。“这使居民和更广泛的公众能够研究提案并提供反馈和意见。”通过这些研究，顾问会确定该地点目前有什么，评估拟议开发可能如何影响这些特征，并建议如何避免、减少或缓解对该地点的潜在影响。对于环境影响评估，顾问还会提出初步环境管理和监测计划，列明开发期间将适用的缓解措施、监测安排和报告要求。“机构随后会在最终确定详细计划前考虑这些研究和反馈，”Tan先生说，并补充说，这些评估“并不是为了证明一个已经固定的详细计划是合理的”。

Gillman Barracks建于1935年，曾是英国军事驻地，后于2012年被改造为艺术区。如今这里有艺术画廊、酒吧、餐厅和生活方式企业。政府于2024年3月宣布，正在研究在Gillman Barracks引入一个新住宅邻里的可能性。为敏感地重建Gillman Barracks地块，HDB委托开展一项研究，以了解该地点的生态和历史，并确定缓解开发影响的措施。研究覆盖47公顷区域，包括一个约40公顷的发展区域，其边界为Depot Road、Alexandra Road、Telok Blangah Road/West Coast Highway和Telok Blangah Street 31，以及Telok Blangah Heights以北一个7公顷的绿地。要保留和保护什么？ 在补充问题中，国会议员Christopher de Souza（PAP-Holland-Bukit Timah）询问，当局是否可以研究靠近Maju Forest的替代地点，包括Clementi Avenue 5上Cross Island Line的一个大型工地。“借鉴Dover Forest，以及我数年前参与的辩论，我们成功找到了替代住房地点，保留了Dover Forest的一半，这是一个双赢局面。因此我邀请部长以一张白纸的方式审视这个问题，看看我们是否能够实现这样的双赢，”他说。Tan先生表示，MRT线完工后，该地点将被考虑用于住宅开发。“我们尽力优化土地使用，并尽可能利用空置土地和棕地，但附近没有其他合适地点可以满足近期需求，”他说。国会议员Kenneth Tiong（WP-Aljunied）指出，永续发展与环境部（MSE）已将2026年定为气候适应年，显示其为国家优先事项，并询问为什么该部“没有被看到在为Maju Forest发挥领导和倡导作用”。Tan先生表示，他不同意这种描述。“政府跨不同部门作出决定，我们会与MSE沟通，MSE会给我们反馈。但归根结底，我们必须根据新加坡和新加坡人的最大利益作出决定。”永续发展与环境部长傅海燕表示，暗示她的部门应采取与国家发展部不同的立场，“并不是我们作为一个政府的工作方式”。“我们任何一个人站在这里向政府提出立场时，其余人都是支持的。所以我认为，如果一名WP成员希望看到部长之间发生争执，我想他们会失望，”她说。

工人党非选区议员Andre Low也询问，不推进开发计划是否仍是当局的一个选项。“我已经很清楚地说明，我们早前提到的地点，Sunset Way以及Gillman Barracks，已经根据我们的总体规划被划为住宅用途，”Tan先生说。“并且它们已被预留作住房用途，所以我们将推进。”与此同时，他补充说，当局如何建设很重要，这也是为什么已经开展研究，并“尽可能”缓解对这些地点的生态和历史影响。关于Gillman Barracks，Tan先生表示，当局正在研究如何保留该地点内大部分以本地物种为主的次生林，并研究如何维持东西向和南北向的生态连接。东西向连接将连接Telok Blangah Hill Park和HortPark，而南北向连接将包括一条生态走廊，支持鸟类向Berlayar Creek和Labrador Nature Reserve移动。鉴于Gillman Barracks具有“鲜明的历史特色”，当局也在研究保留所有被评估为具有卓越历史意义的建筑，以及大多数被评估为具有高度历史意义的建筑。“这将让未来邻里建立在前殖民时期建筑的性格和魅力之上。但如果某座历史建筑因实际场地限制而无法保留，我们将探索其他方式保存其历史，”Tan先生说。在Sunset Way，他补充说，当局正在研究保留前Jurong Railway Line沿线“一大段重要绿化”，以及保留一条天然溪流及其周边的河岸缓冲带。Tan先生强调，政府重视历史和绿色空间，但也希望新加坡人和未来世代能够获得负担得起的公共住房。“我希望我们有充裕的土地，这样就能在不作取舍的情况下提供所有这些。但这不是我们的现实，”他说。“与较大国家面临的选择相比，我们的选择更窄。因此，我们必须充分利用有限土地。”