PRIVATE RETAIL DEVELOPMENT IN HDB TOWN CENTRES

Abstract

The HDB (Housing Development Board) in recent years has sold land for private developments within the new towns. These developments will consist of offices, planned shopping centres and other entertainment facilities. Being located in the town centres of the new towns, such developments will undoubtedly affect the retailers already located in the town centres. This dissertation examines the rationale behind HDB's move to release land for private commercial developments and the effects these private retail developments will have on the nearby HDB town centres' retail outlets. A study was done on the first sale of commercial sites in Yishun and Tampines New Towns. The hypothesis formulated tests whether there is competition posed by the private retail developments towards the HDB's retail shops in the town centres. Through the analysis of the shopper's and retailer's survey, it was found that the private retail centres will pose competition towards the town centre's retailers as shoppers will favour shopping in the new shopping complexes.