The National Heritage Board (NHB) said it intends to gazette the property at 38 Oxley Road as a national monument.

It hence intends to acquire the site, preserve and subsequently convert it into a public space.

In a Nov. 3 announcement, NHB said that it had assessed 38 Oxley Road to be of national significance, with great historic merit.

Plans for 38 Oxley Road

This does not mean the two-storey building will be preserved in entirety, NHB stressed.

After the planned acquisition, the authorities will conduct a detailed assessment of the site and consider how to proceed.

Among the possible options are a partial or full demolition of the buildings and structures.

The site will then be turned into a public space, with one possibility being a heritage park.

The decision will be made within this term of government, NHB clarified.

Regardless of the decision, the government intends to remove all traces of the Lee family's private living spaces from the building, to protect their privacy.

Significance of 38 Oxley Road

38 Oxley Road was where founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew lived and worked from 1950 till his death in 2015.

It bore witness to significant political events from 1953, in particular a series of secret meetings between Lee and other Singapore founding fathers in the basement dining room.

This eventually led to the formation of the People's Action Party (PAP), marking Singapore's path to early independence.

Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) David Neo said:"The site bore witness to discussions and pivotal decisions that shaped the course of Singapore's history to become an independent nation. The intention to gazette the site as a national monument recognises its historic significance and national importance. This will preserve a key part of our independence journey for future generations."

Moving forward

NHB will first serve a Notice of Intention to acquire the property to the owner on Nov. 3.

Lee Hsien Yang, the son of Lee Kuan Yew, earlier said that he is the property's sole legal owner. He added that he had on Oct. 21, 2024 applied to have the building demolished.

The owner will be given two weeks to submit any objections to NHB for consideration.

NHB will then submit its recommendations to MCCY.

Neo will then consider the objections and decide whether or not to proceed with the preservation.

If he decides to do so, a preservation order will be issued. This means that the government will acquire the site and safeguard it as a place of national value.

A gazetted site cannot be redeveloped for residential, commercial, or other private uses.

There has been no precedent in which the government has accepted an objection or appeal by the owner or occupier, and decided not to proceed with the gazetting process.

The owner will also be compensated in accordance with the Land Acquisition Act, taking into consideration the property's market value.