PUBLISHED ONNovember 10, 2026 9:32 AMBYLaili AbdeenThe Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has commissioned its first Built Heritage Sector Consultancy Study to assess Singapore's conservation industry and recommend ways to strengthen it, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat announced on Monday (Nov 10).
Speaking at the 2026 Architectural Heritage Awards at the URA Centre, he said the study aims to better understand of the size and profile of Singapore's built heritage sector, including the architects, engineers, contractors and other specialists involved in conservation work.
It will identify the sector's strengths, as well as gaps in skills and capabilities.
It will also recommend ways to strengthen the sector's capabilities for the future, including further support for training and skills development as well as stronger partnerships between the Government, industry and academia, said Chee.
He added that URA will engage industry experts, professional bodies, Institutes of Higher Learning and relevant public agencies as part of the study to ensure its recommendations are "practical", "grounded" in industry needs and able to support the long-term development of Singapore’s conservation sector.
Noting that Singapore today has more than 7,200 conserved buildings and structures, Chee said a strong pipeline of skilled professionals would be needed as conservation work becomes increasingly complex.
"Conservation ultimately depends on the entire ecosystem comprising building owners, architects, developers, heritage practitioners and communities who recognise the value of these places and are prepared to care for them over the long term," he said.
In his speech, Chee also highlighted the three Architectural Heritage Award winners, Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Parochial House and 21 Carpenter Street, for preserving the history and heritage of their respective communities.
He also pointed to three properties that were recently gazetted for conservation: Orchard Road Presbyterian Church, Starpoint at 319 Pasir Panjang Road and Villa Haji Kahar at 1 Bedok Avenue.
Chee said URA is also reviewing its conservation requirements to make them more practical and less onerous for building owners.
This includes studying whether low-impact works from can be exempted from application requirements so that owners can carry out routine upkeep more easily.
URA is also looking at developing common code-compliant solutions for conserved shophouses and bungalows to provide clearer guidance for renovation and upgrading works.
He emphasised the importance of conserving meaningful parts of Singapore's past while meeting the needs and aspirations of future generations.
"A city’s identity is shaped not just by what we choose to build, but also what we choose to keep," said Chee, adding that heritage survives only when each generation chooses to care for it and pass it on.
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