Authorities seek views on how to protect Ellison Building

Parts of the iconic building located at the corner of Selegie Road are set to be demolished for the development of the North-South Corridor. Source

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) are calling on heritage groups to provide their views on how to best protect Ellison Building, reported Channel NewsAsia.

This comes as several groups had aired their concerns over the fate of the iconic building that was built in 1924 and located at the corner of Selegie Road.

Parts of Ellison Building will be making way for the development of the North-South Corridor. Major construction works on the integrated transport corridor, which runs from the north to the city centre, is set to start next year.

“The alignment was decided after extensive and detailed engineering studies by various government agencies, and in determining the alignment, we have worked hard to minimise the impact of works on neighbouring buildings,” the agencies said.

However, they noted that the alignment is “unable to completely avoid Ellison Building due to the heavily built-up corridor, which included the existing buildings, Downtown Line and North-East Line MRT tunnels and station as well as the Rochor Canal”.

In recognition of Ellison Building’s importance to Singapore’s history and heritage, the LTA revealed that it will engage heritage groups for their suggestions on possible mitigation measures as well as a conservation specialist to give them advice on the matter.

The LTA and the URA said they will work closely with the heritage groups to “retain as much of Ellison Building as possible”.

In fact, implementation plans will only be finalised following discussions with heritage groups and the completion of the conservation specialist’s report, they added.

Romesh Navaratnarajah, Senior Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact him about this or other stories, email romesh@propertyguru.com.sg