A Major Milestone for Hougang Central
Hougang Central is set for a significant transformation following the award of a 99-year leasehold mixed-use GLS site to a consortium led by CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), alongside CapitaLand Development and UOL Group.
With a winning bid of about $1.5 billion, this project will introduce a large-scale integrated development combining residential, retail, transport connectivity and civic spaces — a first of its kind in Hougang in recent years. Its scale and integration mark a clear step-change for the estate, positioning Hougang Central as a new activity nucleus for the Northeast region.
🏗 Infographic: Key Project Highlights
🏢 Development Overview
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99-year leasehold mixed-use GLS site
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Site area: ~504,820 sq ft
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Target completion: 2030–2031
🏬 Commercial Component (CICT)
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~300,000 sq ft net lettable area
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Largest mall in Hougang
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Retail, lifestyle and F&B concepts
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Fully owned and managed by CICT
🏠 Residential Component (CapitaLand + UOL)
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About 830 private residential units
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Developed under a 50:50 joint venture
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Integrated within transport and retail hub
Why This Site Matters for Hougang
This is the first GLS site in Hougang since 2019, making it a rare and highly strategic land release. Despite being one of Singapore’s top 10 most populous residential towns, Hougang has historically had below-average private retail space per capita.
The upcoming development directly addresses this gap, while anchoring future growth for surrounding mature estates such as Kovan, Serangoon, Sengkang, Punggol and Hougang itself.
🚆 Transport-Led Integration as a Growth Driver
One of the project’s strongest fundamentals lies in its seamless transport integration:
🚇 Direct link to Hougang MRT Station (North-East Line)
🚌 Connection to the new Hougang Bus Interchange
🏙 Integrated with a new town plaza and civic space
🚆 Future Cross Island Line interchange by 2030
This level of connectivity elevates the project beyond a typical mixed-use development, reinforcing its role as a regional transport and lifestyle hub.
Strategic Implications for the Market
For CICT, this marks its first retail-led development in Singapore’s Northeast, strengthening its Singapore-focused portfolio strategy. By participating from the development stage, CICT expects a yield on cost exceeding 5%, which compares favourably against stabilised retail asset acquisitions.
From a broader market perspective, the close bidding spread between the top three bidders reflects shared confidence among major developers in Hougang Central’s long-term fundamentals.
✅ Key Takeaways
✅ First major GLS launch in Hougang since 2019
✅ Largest mall ever planned within Hougang
✅ Integrated with MRT, bus interchange and future Cross Island Line
✅ Strengthens Hougang’s role as a civic and lifestyle hub
✅ Signals renewed developer confidence in mature heartland estates
Thinking Ahead in Hougang?
Whether you’re considering future home options, estate transformation trends, or how integrated developments reshape mature towns, Hougang Central is one project worth watching closely. Reach out if you’d like insights on how this development could influence surrounding values, future launches, or upgrader opportunities nearby.