Changi Village area on track to be developed into sports & recreational centre

Lip Kwok Wai and Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 1 Jan 14;

SINGAPORE: The Changi Village area is on track to be developed into a sports and recreational centre.

And analysts said the recently completed Changi Cove hotel near Hendon Road could be part of the government's plan to develop the entire area into a resort and corporate retreat site.

Some of the colonial buildings around Changi Village are currently undergoing upgrading.

There are plans to redevelop them into a spa resort, restaurants and even a corporate training centre.

Five of the buildings along Hendon Road, which are expected to house the spa and restaurants, belong to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA).

The SLA has since tendered out the operations of those five buildings.

Nearby, the Changi Civil Service Club, located near the Changi Point Ferry Terminal, is also undergoing upgrading.

The upgrading is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2014.

The Civil Service Club said once the upgrading is completed, the gross floor area of the facility will be tripled. Twenty per cent of that space will be designated for food and beverage and leisure space outlets.

Observers feel that the location in the east of the country can provide an alternative to the city centre.

Chris Koh, director of Chris International, said: "It is away from the city so if one wants to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city, the large populated areas, lots of commercial and industrial… then Changi will be a nice place."

- CNA/nd