Two longstanding public sports facilities, the Kallang Basin Swimming Complex and the St Wilfred Sport Centre, will cease operations in the second half of 2025 as part of a broader redevelopment strategy. The move comes as Singapore continues to address heightened housing demand and explore more optimal land use near the city centre.
In a joint statement released on 13 June, Sport Singapore (SportSG), the Housing & Development Board (HDB), and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) confirmed that the leases on both facilities will expire next year. Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, located at 21 Geylang Bahru Lane, is set to close on 1 September 2025. The St Wilfred Sport Centre in Whampoa will follow on 1 October 2025.
The Kallang Basin site currently includes a swimming pool and gym, while the St Wilfred facility comprises a tennis and squash centre and a football field. Authorities are studying the potential redevelopment of both locations for public housing.
“This is part of our ongoing efforts to address the strong and broad-based demand for housing in recent years,” the agencies stated. “As part of our long-term planning efforts, the Government will also continue to develop and enhance sports infrastructure, working closely with the community to meet Singapore’s evolving lifestyle and recreational needs.”
Upon closure of the two venues, residents will be able to access nearby alternatives. In Geylang Bahru, a new sports facility at Kolam Ayer is scheduled for completion by end-2025. Likewise, a new venue in Whampoa is expected to be operational within the same timeframe.
Existing ActiveSG facilities will continue to support the community’s sporting needs. These include swimming complexes in Serangoon, Geylang East and Jalan Besar, as well as squash and tennis courts at Kallang ActiveSG Squash Centre, Burghley ActiveSG Squash and Tennis Centre, and Kallang Tennis Centre. Additional spaces under the Dual-Use Scheme—such as the indoor sports hall and field at Bendemeer Primary School and the football field at Bendemeer Secondary School—will remain accessible.
The closures form part of the Government’s Sports Facilities Master Plan, which aims to rejuvenate and expand sports infrastructure. Since 2013, the number of ActiveSG facilities has increased by 30 per cent, with further developments under way, including the Farrer Park Town Play Field and the Punggol Regional Sport Centre.
Commenting on the announcement, Eugene Lim, key executive officer at ERA Singapore, said the closures reflect logical land-use planning given the proximity of both sites to the city centre. “The Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, built in the 1980s, is relatively dated compared to newer sports complexes,” he said. “The same applies to the St Wilfred Sport Centre.”
Lim added that Geylang Bahru, which contains numerous HDB blocks constructed in the 1970s, is in need of rejuvenation. The area’s future residential developments are likely to attract strong interest due to their location within walking distance of Geylang Bahru MRT station and nearby amenities such as the Geylang Bahru Market and Food Centre.
He projected that upcoming Build-To-Order (BTO) projects on the site could fall under the Plus flat category, given the sites’ centrality. “The nearby sites have a plot ratio of 2.8. Assuming a similar ratio, we may see high-rise BTO flats up to 36 storeys. The development may feature a mix of two- to four-room flats, catering to various household profiles.”
Regarding the St Wilfred site, Lim observed that the location’s proximity to St George’s Road—an area populated by 1980s-built HDB blocks—and its 10-minute walking distance to Boon Keng MRT station make it another prime candidate for Plus flats. Prime and Plus flats are typically closer to key amenities and subject to stricter resale rules, including a 10-year minimum occupation period and subsidy clawbacks.
Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property search platform Mogul.sg, concurred with the redevelopment plans, noting that there is sufficient availability of other sports facilities to serve the affected neighbourhoods. “The closure of these two facilities provides the Government with an opportunity to revitalise the area with a combination of public and private housing. The region is relatively aged and offers significant potential for land intensification,” Mak said.
He further noted that the St Wilfred site similarly presents an opportunity for enhanced land use and community benefit through redevelopment.
-The Strait Times
