Singapore’s land sales programme has played a key role in the
country’s urban redevelopment. Since its establishment in 1967,
the Sale of Sites programme, later renamed the Government Land
Sales (GLS) programme, has been instrumental in transforming
Singapore’s city centre into a flourishing, world-class business
and financial district. Land sales in the outer-lying parts of the
country have also spurred the development of many vibrant and
attractive mixed-use regional centres. Today, the GLS programme
remains a pillar of Singapore’s planning process and is a successful
demonstration of how the public sector can effectively tap on the
private sector to forge a partnership in effecting sustainable and
impactful urban development.
This Urban Systems Study documents the challenges, efforts
and successes encountered by Singapore in conceptualising and
implementing the land sales programme over the decades. It also
comprehensively describes and explains the programme’s key
aspects, including the selection of sale sites and various modes of
sale available.
The Sale of Sites programme that we created has been a unique
feature in Singapore’s urban renewal. I am very proud to say that it
was the driving force in Singapore’s urban renewal.”
- Alan Choe, General Manager, Urban Redevelopment Authority (1974–78).