HDB announced it will build new homes at Gillman Barracks following comprehensive environmental and heritage studies released in July 2026 [1, 2]. The 40-hectare site will retain 25 of 86 assessed heritage buildings, including four considered exceptionally significant, representing periods from the British military era, the Singapore Armed Forces, and educational institutions [2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Around 20% of the site—approximately 8 hectares—will be preserved as green spaces combining existing greenery with new plantings [1, 2, 3]. The environmental study recorded 293 plant species and 178 fauna species, guiding plans to protect ecological corridors and natural habitats within the estate [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. HDB said the housing developments will be "designed around nature," creating a "charming and vibrant" community close to the Southern Ridges and Labrador Nature Park Network [1, 2].
The future estate will include both public and private housing units, though no official number of homes has been announced yet [1, 2, 3]. As a rough comparison, the nearby Berlayar estate on 48 hectares will hold about 10,000 homes with 10 hectares of greenery, indicating the possible scale of Gillman Barracks development [2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Gillman Barracks is located near Labrador Park MRT station and the upcoming Greater Southern Waterfront district, positioning it conveniently for future residents [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Existing tenants at the site currently operating under leases will progressively vacate by 2030 to allow redevelopment to begin [2, 3, 4, 5, 6].
HDB noted that its planning process included collaboration with other government agencies to develop a blueprint meeting heritage and environmental considerations. The agency highlighted the estate’s green respite and integration with nearby parks as key features [1, 2]. The next key milestone is the progressive expiration of existing tenancies by 2030, clearing the way for construction to start.
