Singapore takes possession of Lee Kuan Yew's 38 Oxley Road home, public space options under study

PETALING JAYA (Aug 1): The Singapore government has completed the acquisition of 38 Oxley Road, the former home of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, taking possession of one of the city-state's most historically significant sites as authorities begin studying options for how it can be developed into a public space.

The government took possession of the site on Friday (July 31) to preserve it in keeping with its "historic significance and national importance", according to a joint statement by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the National Heritage Board (NHB). The acquisition followed its gazetting as a National Monument on Dec 12, 2025, and its subsequent gazette for acquisition on Jan 29, 2026.

The acquisition means the site cannot be redeveloped for residential, commercial or other private uses, marking a significant shift in the future of a rare centrally located property in land-scarce Singapore.

The NHB will undertake a detailed study of how the site can be developed into a public space, while necessary maintenance works will be carried out in the interim and the property will remain closed to the public. The authorities have also said the interior of the house as Lee knew it will not be "displayed, recorded, remodelled or duplicated elsewhere", underscoring efforts to preserve the site's historical significance while respecting the family's privacy.

Historic role in Singapore's nation-building

Built in 1898, the bungalow became Lee's family home in the years following World War Two and remained his residence until his death in 2015.

The property occupies a unique place in Singapore's political history. Its basement dining room hosted meetings involving founding members of the People's Action Party (PAP) in the early 1950s before the party's formal establishment in 1954, and discussions held there contributed to Singapore's journey towards self-government and eventual independence.

Government ministers have previously said the historical significance of the site cannot be fully replicated elsewhere, including at the planned Founders' Memorial, underpinning the decision to preserve it as a National Monument.

Any future use of the site has yet to be determined. The government has previously identified a heritage park as one possible outcome, but has not committed to a final plan or indicated which parts of the property, if any, may ultimately be retained.

Long-running dispute over the property's future

The acquisition follows years of public debate over the fate of the property after Lee’s death in 2015.

Lee had expressed his preference for the house to be demolished after it was no longer occupied by his daughter, Lee Wei Ling, a wish reflected in his final will.

However, the property's historical significance prompted the government to consider preservation, setting the stage for a long-running public disagreement among Lee's children over whether the house should be demolished or retained.

The issue resurfaced after Wei Ling died in October 2024. Her brother, Lee Hsien Yang, subsequently announced plans to demolish the bungalow, before the government moved to assess the property for national monument status and later announced its intention to gazette and acquire the site.

Following the completion of the acquisition, Hsien Yang reiterated his opposition, saying the move disregarded his father's longstanding wish for the house to be demolished.

Heritage takes precedence over redevelopment

The acquisition marks a key milestone in the government's preservation process for one of Singapore's most historically significant sites.

While the property has long attracted public attention because of the Lee family dispute, the government's latest action effectively settles the question of whether the site will return to private redevelopment. The remaining issue is how its historical significance can be preserved and presented to the public in a manner that respects Lee's wishes for privacy and his family's private living spaces.

For Singapore, the decision reflects a broader heritage policy balancing national historical interests against the redevelopment potential of a prime urban site — an approach that places the long-term stewardship of a nationally significant landmark ahead of its future as private real estate.

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