38 Oxley Road acquisition ongoing; NHB to study public use while consulting residents, says Low Yen Ling
Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling said the acquisition of 38 Oxley Road is ongoing. NHB will study how the site can be used for public education, in consultation with relevant agencies. Authorities will also engage neighbouring residents to minimise disamenities and ensure it becomes a shared heritage space.
- Acquisition of 38 Oxley Road is ongoing; redevelopment for private use is prohibited.
- NHB will conduct a holistic study with relevant agencies to optimise the site’s public education and heritage value.
- Authorities will engage neighbouring residents to minimise disamenities and ensure the site becomes a shared public heritage space.
Singapore’s authorities will consult nearby residents and work with relevant agencies to determine the future public use of 38 Oxley Road, the former home of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, now gazetted as a national monument.
Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Low Yen Ling, speaking in Parliament on 5 March 2026, confirmed that the acquisition process is ongoing and that the National Heritage Board (NHB) will conduct a holistic study once access is obtained.
“We will work with the member as well as the relevant government agencies to engage residents staying nearby the site and consider ideas and feedback to minimise any potential disamenities,” she said.
Parliamentary discussion on a whole-of-government approach
During the MCCY's Committee of Supply debate, Low responded to Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Joan Pereira, who urged a whole-of-government approach and consistent consultation with neighbours.
Low highlighted that MCCY will explore ways to make the site accessible to the public so it can become part of Singapore’s shared memory.
“As mentioned by Acting Minister David Neo, MCCY will certainly study possible options to make the site accessible to the public and a common space for all Singaporeans,” Low said.
Historical significance and community concerns
Pereira emphasised the site’s historical importance and the need to respect surrounding residents.
“38 Oxley Road was gazetted as a national monument last December. As the government moves forward to develop the site into a public space, it is important that the process takes into account national heritage needs, exercises sensitivity, and respects the dignity of the site,” she stated.
She noted practical concerns from residents including traffic congestion, illegal parking, and human traffic noise. Oxley Road, a narrow two-lane thoroughfare connecting Orchard Road and River Valley Road, is already busy.
“Multiple residents have expressed worry that the conversion of the site into a public space could bring significantly more vehicles, tour buses and pedestrians,” Pereira said.
Preserving heritage while mitigating disamenities
Authorities aim to balance heritage preservation with the residential character of the area.
Low confirmed that agencies will collaborate on traffic management, parking solutions, and pedestrian infrastructure.
“Careful management of visitor flows, operating hours, and commercial activity will ensure the residential character of the neighbourhood is preserved,” she added.
Property consultants have advised establishing adequate car and coach parking and drop-off zones, while ensuring residents remain involved from the early planning stages.
Pereira stressed that residents “must not be informed of decisions only after they are made. They must be involved in shaping those decisions from the very beginning.”
Government acquisition and legal process
The government formally commenced acquisition in January 2026.
Residential or commercial redevelopment is prohibited to ensure long-term protection. NHB and SLA will conduct structural assessments and studies to guide future public access.
“All options, including those outlined by the 2018 Ministerial Committee, will be considered before a decision is made,” agencies said.
They emphasised that Lee Kuan Yew’s private living spaces will not be displayed, recorded, remodelled, or duplicated elsewhere.
Compensation and estate background
Compensation will follow the Land Acquisition Act 1966, based on market value at the time of gazetting. Acting Minister Neo confirmed that professional valuers would assist SLA and owners may appeal to the Land Acquisition Appeals Board if dissatisfied.
38 Oxley Road was purchased by Lee Hsien Yang from then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at 50% above market value as part of the estate agreement following Lee Kuan Yew’s death.
The siblings pledged half the property’s value to charities including the Education Fund, NTUC-U Care Fund, and five self-help groups.
Family history and previous government actions
Lee Kuan Yew had repeatedly requested demolition of the house, calling it of “no merit as architecture” and opposing its preservation.
After his death in March 2015, family disagreements arose over the house’s fate, culminating in a ministerial statement by Lee Hsien Loong in 2017.
A Ministerial Committee chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in 2018 presented three options: full preservation, partial preservation of the basement dining room, or demolition.
No recommendation was made as Lee Wei Ling continued to reside there. Following her passing in October 2025, a demolition application was submitted by Lee Hsien Yang.
Preservation decision and public statement
The Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board assessed the property as possessing “strong national significance worthy of preservation as a national monument.”
The board highlighted its foundational role in Singapore’s independence history.
Lee Hsien Yang publicly opposed the preservation, reiterating his father’s wish for demolition.
“38 Oxley Road will be a monument to the PAP’s dishonour of Lee Kuan Yew,” he said in a letter to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and in social media posts, noting that the existing Founders’ Memorial already honours his father’s legacy.
