SINGAPORE – Five former schools in the east that have moved or been merged with other schools are set to be replaced by new homes.

Proposed amendments to the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) masterplan that were published on April 24 and May 7 showed that land occupied by the five schools have been earmarked for new homes.

They are the former Bedok Town Secondary, Temasek Primary and Temasek Secondary in Bedok, Qiaonan Primary in Tampines and Siglap Secondary in Pasir Ris.

The HDB is in the midst of demolishing three of the schools, and has permission from the URA to tear down the remaining two.

Other proposed amendments to the URA Master Plan 2019 – a statutory document – showed that new homes are being planned in areas such as Sin Ming and Toa Payoh.

One of the proposed amendments is to rezone a site near Bedok MRT station from educational to residential use.

The site, at the intersection of New Upper Changi Road and Bedok South Road, was formerly occupied by Temasek Primary and Secondary schools. Both schools have moved to other sites in Bedok South and Upper East Coast.

The HDB received permission from URA to demolish the two schools in February 2023, but has yet to tear them down, according to checks by The Straits Times.

The site is about 31,500 sq m, and has been assigned a gross plot ratio of 2.8.

Gross plot ratios determine the maximum permissible floor area of developments.

Property analysts said the site can yield 1,000 to 1,100 condominium units, or 700 to 820 public flats.

Mr Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at property search portal Mogul.sg, said, however, that condo developers might not be keen on a site so close to the industrial area in Bedok South Road, which potential homebuyers might not like.

Temasek Primary used the site from 1980 to 2000 before moving to Bedok South Avenue 3, while Temasek Secondary was there from 1980 to 1999 before moving to 600 Upper East Coast Road.

About 1km away at 232 Bedok North Street 3, the HDB is demolishing the former Bedok Town Secondary School, which merged with Ping Yi Secondary in 2016.

A noticeboard at the site states that demolition works are slated for completion in the second quarter of 2025.