SINGAPORE — The former Joo Chiat Police Station looks set to be restored to its past glory, after the Urban Redevelopment Authority launched for sale yesterday a site at East Coast Road for a large hotel development that could include as many as 600 rooms.

Located in the Joo Chiat/Katong heritage area, the hotel site, which is on the Reserve List of the Government Land Sales programme, was triggered for sale after an unnamed developer committed to bid not lower than S$160 million, the URA said.

The 99-year leasehold plot occupies 88,678 sq ft and has a maximum allowable gross floor area (GFA) of about 266,041 sq ft. Up to 40 per cent of the GFA is allowed for commercial uses such as office and retail.

The site contains the “historically and architecturally significant former Joo Chiat Police Station, which shall be restored as part of the future hotel development”, the URA said. The conserved building will be included in the maximum allowable GFA.

Mr Nicholas Mak, Executive Director of SLP International Property Consultants, said the site’s location near Paya Lebar — planned as a regional commercial hub under the new Draft Master Plan 2013 — could drive demand for hotel rooms in the area.

“There are very few land parcels near the Paya Lebar MRT Station and the Eunos MRT Station that are zoned for hotel development. The subject site at Katong is the only major hotel development site that is relatively near to the Paya Lebar commercial hub,” he said.

Mr Mak said a challenge facing the developer of this large hotel is that it would have to provide sufficient parking space — noting that the plot is currently fronting a busy road and surrounded on two sides by other buildings.

He expects a top bid for the site of S$250 million to S$266 million, or S$940 to S$1,000 per sq ft per plot ratio.

The tender, closing on Jan 21, could attract five to 10 bidders, he added.