The plans to redevelop the Kallang Basin and St Wilfred sports centers are timely, as both facilities are considerably older compared to many other sports amenities, says Eugene Lim, chief executive officer at ERA Singapore. He notes that the redevelopment is a logical move given the sites’ proximity to the city center and their potential for more optimal land use.
The St Wilfred Sports Centre is located about a 10-minute walk from Boon Keng MRT station. It is situated near St George’s Road, an area where many existing HDB blocks were built in the 1980s, according to Lim.
The Kallang Basin ActiveSG Swimming Complex and St Wilfred ActiveSG Sports Centre are set to permanently cease operations in the second half of 2025. On June 13, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Housing and Development Board, and Sport Singapore jointly announced that the facilities will close upon the expiry of their current leases. The Kallang Basin complex, located on Geylang Bahru Lane, will close on September 1, while the St Wilfred centre on St Wilfred Road will shut down on October 1.
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Residents will have access to a new Sport-in-Precinct facility at nearby Kolam Ayer, scheduled to open by the end of the year. Meanwhile, plans for introducing public housing at the two sites are currently under study, according to the involved agencies.
The Kallang Basin Swimming Complex is located within walking distance of Geylang Bahru MRT station and the Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre. Lim points out that many of the existing HDB blocks in the Geylang Bahru area were built in the 1970s, highlighting the need for new developments to rejuvenate the neighborhood.
He suggests that a future Build-to-Order (BTO) project on the site could include a mix of two- to four-room flats. With surrounding plots having a plot ratio of 2.8, and assuming a similar ratio, the development could potentially include high-rise BTO flats reaching up to 36 storeys.
Lim also expects that any upcoming BTO projects at this location could fall under the Plus housing category due to the site's proximity to town and established amenities. Plus flats carry stricter resale conditions than Standard flats, including a longer minimum occupation period of ten years and additional restrictions on renting out the unit.