150,000 new homes to built in new Paya Lebar town: PM Lee

The government is moving Paya Lebar Airbase to a new location in 2030.

Around 150,000 new homes can be built in a new town once Paya Lebar Airbase has been relocated, according to prime minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The government is moving the airbase to a new location to begin the redevelopment of Paya Lebar. Relocations will start in 2030.

The idea is relocation will keep in mind the direction of prevailing winds so aircraft in the airbase can avoid crosswinds when taking off. The future town to be built will be oriented in this way so that the town will enjoy a natural breeze.

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“Hopefully, residents will not need to turn on their air conditioning quite as much. We can repurpose the runway into the town’s central spine, turn it into a green connector or community space extending from one end of town to the other. It will be a distinctive and attractive heritage feature, unique to Paya Lebar,” Lee said.

The plan is to build public and private housing on both sides of the spine. Amenities and recreational areas will be close by as well as commercial and industrial developments.

The move of the airbase will also mean that some building height restrictions around Hougang, Marine Parade or Punggol may be lifted. 

“This means we can redevelop these towns, include more amenities, and make much better use of the space there. It will not happen overnight. But over decades, we can completely reimagine the Eastern part of Singapore,” Lee said.