Aerial view of the Bukit Timah Fire Station site with a land area of 92,334 sq ft and existing gross floor area of 30,638 sq ft (Photo: SLA)
The public tender for the conserved Bukit Timah Fire Station (BTFS) at 260 Upper Bukit Timah Road conducted by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) closed on Oct 18 with nine bids. The highest bid came from local construction company Huationg Global, which submitted $98,000 a month or $1.176 million in annual rent.
The second highest bid of $76,595 monthly rent came from Stalford Academy, which manages 30 Stalford learning centres and affiliates across Singapore. Meanwhile, the third highest bid of $72,000 came from TS Home Pte Ltd, which is part of dormitory and co-living operator TS Group.
Source: Singapore Land Authority
SLA launched the property for public tender on Aug 23. The property sits on a land area of 92,333.59 sq ft and has an existing gross floor area (GFA) of 30,637.57 sq ft. The rental tenure is for five years, with an option to renew for another four years.
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It's the second time that BTFS has been launched for public bidding. Two years ago, when the property was launched for public tender, a consortium, Homestead Holland, was awarded the site in September 2021. However, it pulled out of the project last year, reportedly citing uncertain market conditions and challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. The consortium comprised real asset management company Homestead Group Asia and real investment firm TE Capital Partners.
BTFS was built in 1956 by the Singapore Fire Brigade and was one of three fire stations built after World War II. It ceased operations in 2005 and was leased for community and dining uses until 2020 when the tenants' leases expired.
The Bukit Timah Fire Station was built in 1956 and operational until 2005 (Photo: SLA)
The BTFS is to be conserved, and SLA has stipulated that at least 25% of the existing GFA will be designated for community-based activities. At least 600 sqm (6,458 sq ft) of the land area will be used as outdoor communal gathering space. The rest of the space can be used for office, co-working, or collaborative space. Alternatively, it can be used as an enrichment centre, co-living or serviced apartments and urban farming, with retail and F&B use restricted to the ground level. The outside refreshment area is capped at 6,458 sq ft.
Located in District 21, BTFS is near other heritage sites, such as the former Ford Factory, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and the Bukit Timah Memorial. The site is also near the upcoming Hume MRT station on the Downtown Line.
SLA will announce the tender results for the BTFS site on Jan 31 next year. According to SLA, the recently awarded property at Hindoo Road received 16 bids, 26 Evans Road received 25 bids, and BTFS received nine bids. Meanwhile, the tender for the property at 5 Kadayanallur Street will close in December and SLA will be releasing another Hindoo Road State property for co-living soon.