The Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced on July 10, 2026, that approximately 15 hectares of the 23-hectare Maju Forest in Clementi will be cleared to make way for new public housing. This decision follows the completion of environmental and heritage studies for the site, which has been zoned for residential use in the national Master Plan since 1980. The development aims to address the ongoing demand for housing in Singapore, with the HDB noting that the site is a greenfield area that has never been built upon.
To balance development with environmental concerns, the HDB plans to retain about eight hectares of the forest. This preserved section is intended to serve as a refuge for wildlife and facilitate fauna movement, including a natural freshwater stream and vegetation identified as having high biodiversity value. The area surrounding the former Old Jurong Railway Line will also remain intact, with ongoing studies for a proposed four-kilometre nature trail to maintain ecological connectivity.
Environmental studies conducted by Singapore Environmental Consultancy and Solutions recorded 113 fauna species within the site, including six species of conservation significance such as the straw-headed bulbul and the buffy fish-owl. To mitigate the impact on these species, the HDB stated that it would salvage plants of conservation significance where feasible before construction begins. Furthermore, the agency plans to clear the site in phases, allowing wildlife to relocate to adjacent green spaces.
Nature groups were engaged throughout the planning process, and the HDB has invited the public to review the full environmental and heritage reports. Feedback can be submitted between July 10 and August 6, 2026, which the agency says will be considered as it refines the development plans, including the final housing yield and project timeline. The new estate is expected to incorporate biophilic design, using native plants to help integrate the development into the surrounding ecological network.