The Singapore government noted that it will keep the 13ha of land to be transferred from the Johor regent as “undeveloped for now, while keeping open our future plans for the area”.
This plot is currently labelled on URA’s website as “open space”.
On the website, the other two plots – the 8.5ha to be transferred to the regent, as well as the 8.1ha remaining under him – are currently zoned as “special use” sites, indicating areas used or intended for special purposes.
Authorities said the Johor regent “may develop his land after the swap, which is suitable for low-rise and low-density residential uses”.
Any development plans will be subject to due process, they added, noting that URA and its agencies will assess such applications to ensure the proposed development is “sensitive to the surrounding site context”.
The development will also be subject to environmental studies before works commence.
A 2021 Bloomberg report said the Johor regent had plans to develop a “multibillion-dollar luxury residential project” on his family’s plot of land in Singapore, which lies in Tyersall Park and includes the ruins of Istana Woodneuk.
Istana Woodneuk, along with the torn-down Istana Tyersall, served as the palaces of Johor’s former Temenggong Abu Bakar Daeng Ibrahim in the late 19th century.
The Bloomberg report, citing sources, said Tunku Ismail was seeking permission to develop the land into a “cluster of high-end homes”.
CNA has reached out to SLA and URA for more information.
