The Singapore Government has officially completed the acquisition of 38 Oxley Road, the historic residence of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, marking another milestone in the long-running debate over the property’s future.
The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the National Heritage Board (NHB) confirmed that ownership of the site has now been transferred to the Government. Officials said the acquisition was carried out to safeguard the property’s historical significance and ensure its preservation for future generations.
For now, members of the public will not be allowed to enter the premises as maintenance and preservation works are set to begin. Authorities said the site requires necessary upkeep before any future plans can be considered.
Property Reserved for Heritage Purposes
According to the joint statement, 38 Oxley Road was officially gazetted as a national monument in December 2025 before being gazetted for compulsory acquisition in January 2026.
As a protected national monument, the property can no longer be redeveloped for residential, commercial or other private purposes. The Government has previously stated that compensation would be paid to former owner Lee Hsien Yang based on the property’s market value at the time of acquisition, together with any eligible claims from affected parties. However, the amount of compensation has not been disclosed.
Authorities reiterated that the acquisition was undertaken because of the site’s unique role in Singapore’s history, describing it as a location of national importance.
Lee Hsien Yang Reaffirms Father’s Wishes
Former owner Lee Hsien Yang criticised the Government’s decision shortly after the acquisition was completed.
In a social media post, he maintained that his father, the late Lee Kuan Yew, had made his intentions regarding the family home unmistakably clear. According to him, both he and his late sister, Lee Wei Ling, had sought to honour those wishes in their roles as executors of Lee Kuan Yew’s estate.
Lee Hsien Yang argued that preserving the property goes against his father’s long-standing desire for the house to be demolished, describing the acquisition as a direct contradiction of those wishes. He added that, in his view, no explanation could change that conclusion.
NHB to Study Future of the Site
Despite the differing views, the National Heritage Board said it will carry out a comprehensive study to determine how the site should be managed in the future.
The agency stated that it intends to explore ways of opening the site to the public while respecting Lee Kuan Yew’s desire for privacy. Officials stressed that careful consideration would be given to balancing the property’s historical value with the wishes expressed by Singapore’s founding Prime Minister.
The Government has also previously pledged that private living spaces inside the house will not be preserved or recreated. It said the home’s original interior will not be displayed, documented for exhibition, reconstructed or reproduced elsewhere.
Historical Importance Beyond One Individual
During an earlier ministerial statement, the Government emphasised that preserving 38 Oxley Road is not intended to commemorate a single political figure, but rather to recognise the location’s place in Singapore’s national development.
Officials have described the property as an important landmark where key moments in the country’s history unfolded, making it part of Singapore’s broader national story.
As studies continue, no timeline has been announced for when the public may eventually be allowed access to the site, with maintenance works remaining the immediate priority.