Town Hall Link white site launched for tender, with up to 1,200 homes planned
Strong connectivity, limited nearby private-home supply and substantial commercial space may attract consortium bids and support housing demand as Jurong Lake District develops.
URA launched the 400,719 sq ft Town Hall Link white site for tender, potentially delivering 1,200 homes and over 2 million sq ft of gross floor area.
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URA has launched a land tender for a white site at Town Hall Link in Jurong Lake District, under the Government Land Sales programme for the second half of 2026. The 99-year leasehold site spans 400,719 sq ft, with a maximum gross floor area of over 2 million sq ft.
According to URA’s release on July 3, the site falls under an ongoing transformation of the precinct into a “vibrant regional centre”.
The mixed-use plot could potentially accommodate up to 1,200 homes, alongside about 430,560 sq ft of office space. A further 473,616 sq ft will be included for complementary uses such as retail, serviced apartments, hotels, as well as recreational and community spaces.
Read also: URA releases Reserve List GLS site carved from former Jurong Lake District master developer plot
According to Marcus Chu, CEO of ERA Singapore, the Town Hall Link white site was carved out from a larger plot that was launched for tender in June 2023. The tender was not awarded after URA deemed the submitted bids too low.
Chu, however, believes the new site is unlikely to "meet the same fate", given its more manageable size.
Justin Quek, deputy group CEO of Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group, echoes this sentiment adding that the land parcel will be more attractive to developers as the government will undertake part of the required infrastructure works, helping to reduce development costs.
‘Largest mixed-use business node’ planned outside the city centre
The site is located within Jurong Lake District, which is poised to become Singapore’s “largest mixed-use business node” outside the city centre, says URA.
Upon full completion, the district is expected to deliver 100,000 new jobs and 20,000 new homes, supporting nearly one million residents and over 3,000 companies in the western region.
Besides the Town Hall Link site, several major projects are planned for the area. These include the new Science Centre Singapore, which is slated to open by end-2027, and the Jurong Gateway Hub, an integrated development expected to be completed in 2029.
ERA’s Chu notes that the district's ongoing transformation could appeal to buyers looking to be among the first to live in a newly emerging precinct.
Strong demand for future mixed-use project
Mixed-use and integrated developments typically enjoy strong buyer demand due to the convenience they offer, adds Chu. He believes the Town Hall Link site will be particularly attractive given its strategic location and excellent connectivity.
The site will be connected to the Jurong East MRT Station interchange and will have pedestrian access to an MRT station along the upcoming Cross Island Line, which is slated to open in 2032.
Realion's Quek believes the residential component will also benefit from the limited pipeline of new private homes in Jurong East, making it an attractive option for HDB upgraders and professionals working in the area.
He notes that Jurong East has seen only three launches in recent years: The LakeGarden Residences, J'den and Sora. The 368-unit J'den moved 88% of its units over its launch weekend in November 2023, with units averaging $2,451 psf.
By comparison, The LakeGarden Residences and SORA each recorded a 23% take-up rate at launch. Quek attributes the difference to their locations farther from the Jurong East MRT station interchange, adding that this could point to strong pent-up demand for future projects closer to the town centre.
Huttons Asia CEO Mark Yip adds that the project's office component is expected to be another key demand driver.
With the supply of office space projected to peak in 2028 before tapering off over the following three years, he believes occupiers seeking premium Grade A office space could gravitate towards the future project at Town Hall Link. “The office component will bring in thousands of employment opportunities and boost demand for residential homes in this area,” he notes.
That said, Yip notes that the mega site could entail significantly higher holding costs and development risks.
Against this backdrop, he expects developers to form consortiums to bid for the site. Yip believes the tender could attract a handful of bidders, with bids potentially reaching as high as $2 billion.
Meanwhile, Realion's Quek projects that the site could attract two to four bids at land rates of between $1,100 to $1,200 psf per plot ratio.
The tender for the Town Hall Link site will close on November 17, at 12pm.