The Government has officially completed its acquisition of 38 Oxley Road and taken possession of the site.
The Singapore Land Authority and National Heritage Board announced that the handover took place on 31 July 2026.
The property was the family home of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
However, taking possession is only the beginning of the next stage. The authorities must now decide what to retain, what to remove and how the site should eventually be opened to the public.
The Government Now Has Possession of the Site
38 Oxley Road was gazetted as Singapore’s 77th national monument on 12 December 2025.
It was subsequently gazetted for acquisition on 29 January 2026 before the Government completed the process six months later.
Acquiring and preserving the site means that it can no longer be redeveloped for residential, commercial or other private purposes.
In other words, nobody can buy the land and build a new private bungalow, condominium or office development there.
The preservation order covers the entire site, including the buildings and structures located on it.
However, this does not mean that every room, wall and structure must remain exactly as it is today.
You Still Cannot Visit 38 Oxley Road
The National Heritage Board will first conduct a detailed study of the property.
Officials will examine the condition of the buildings and structures before deciding what can safely and meaningfully be retained.
Necessary maintenance work will also be carried out in the meantime.
There will be no public access during this period, so please do not head to Oxley Road expecting the gates to suddenly open like a new attraction.
The Government previously said that it intends to conclude its plans for the exact use and configuration of the site well within its current term.
A heritage park is one possible outcome, although no final design has been confirmed.
The study may also examine matters such as traffic, parking and access, as the property sits within an existing residential neighbourhood.
Part or Even All of the House Could Still Be Demolished
This is where the term “national monument” can become slightly confusing.
The Government is preserving the historically significant site, but it has not promised to retain the entire house.
It will consider the options presented by a ministerial committee in 2018.
The first option is to retain the property, although its interior could be significantly renovated to protect the Lee family’s privacy.
The second is to retain only the historically significant basement dining room while demolishing the rest of the house. The dining room could then form part of a park or heritage centre.
The third is to demolish the buildings fully and use the land for an alternative public purpose.
The 2018 report also included the possibility of allowing private residential redevelopment. That possibility is effectively off the table now because the Government has acquired the site and ruled out residential, commercial and other private uses.
Therefore, the eventual public space may contain the entire house, only selected portions of it or none of the original building.
The Lee Family’s Private Rooms Will Not Become Exhibits
Regardless of which option is selected, the Government has promised to remove all traces of Lee Kuan Yew’s and his family’s private living spaces.
The interior of the house as the family knew it will not be displayed, recorded, recreated or duplicated elsewhere.
Spaces such as bedrooms could be emptied, reconfigured or demolished, depending on their historical relevance and the structural condition of the building.
The basement dining room may be treated differently.
The room was used for meetings involving figures such as Goh Keng Swee and Toh Chin Chye in the 1950s, when discussions that contributed to the formation of the People’s Action Party took place.
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo previously described the dining room as less private because it had already been widely documented and was associated with nationally significant events.
The final treatment of each space can only be determined after experts have thoroughly inspected the property.
What Happens to the Former Owner?
Compensation for the acquisition will be determined under the Land Acquisition Act.
The Singapore Land Authority will consider the market value of the site as at 29 January 2026, when it was gazetted for acquisition, together with claims submitted by interested parties.
A professional private valuer will assist in determining the market value.
Anyone dissatisfied with the compensation awarded may file an appeal with the Land Acquisition Appeals Board.
The authorities’ announcement on 31 July did not disclose the amount of compensation.
