URA launches tender for ‘Next-Gen Driving Centre’ set to replace Bukit Batok Driving Centre

[SINGAPORE] The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Singapore Police Force on Wednesday (Oct 8) jointly launched a site for sale by public tender for the development of a multi-storey “Next-Generation Driving Centre” (NGDC).

The NGDC will be used for all vehicle classes and will replace the Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC), which opened in 1990 and is set to be phased out by December 2030. The BBDC land is set to be redeveloped for new residential developments.

NGDC’s land parcel of about 25,000 square metres (sq m) in Lorong Bistari can be developed for a maximum permissible gross floor area of 72,500 sq m for driving circuits and other related facilities, said URA.

The tender will close on Jan 15 next year, with the lease period set to be 30 years.

The NGDC will feature a multi-storey design that “optimises land use”, alongside simulator technology for realistic training and testing, separate circuits for training and testing, as well as intelligent driving circuits that “leverage advanced sensor technology” and real-time monitoring systems to assess learners’ proficiency.

Its inclusion of Class 4 and 5 training and testing capabilities will also supplement the provisions at the Singapore Safety Driving Centre, which is currently the only facility for heavy-vehicle licence training.