Childcare Centre Converted Car Park Space Open Wisteria Mall
On July 1, a new childcare centre will open at Wisteria Mall, providing a convenient and much-needed service for families in the community. The preschool, located on the mall’s second floor car park, is a result of the first-ever conversion of a car park space into a childcare centre under the Community/Sports Facilities Scheme (CSFS) by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). This exciting development was announced in a press release by Knight Frank Singapore on June 25.
The need for a childcare facility to serve the surrounding community was identified by global investment management firm Schroders, the owner of Wisteria Mall, early last year. As the mall was already built to its maximum permissible gross floor area (GFA), Schroders turned to the CSFS to convert part of the existing car park space into a childcare centre.
Under the CSFS, developments can receive bonus GFA for community and sports facilities, up to a cap of 10% of the maximum permissible GFA for the site or 21,528 sq ft, whichever is lower. The new childcare centre, operated by Artemis Preskool and endorsed by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), was appointed by Knight Frank to advise Schroders on the CSFS guidelines, terms and conditions, as well as validating the demand for childcare services in the area.
CBRE was also appointed as project manager, overseeing construction plans and securing necessary approvals from relevant authorities, such as URA’s approval for the change of use. The conversion project required extensive physical infrastructure, including a new passenger lift, dedicated parking lots for customers, and safe access to an outdoor play area in a nearby HDB estate. The entire process took over 14 months to complete.
Andrew Moore, head of real estate for Asia Pacific at Schroders Capital, expresses his excitement for bringing the first CSFS childcare centre converted from car park space to Singapore. He believes that this addition will expand Wisteria Mall’s lifestyle offerings and contribute to the continued rejuvenation of the mall under Schroders’ ownership.
Schroders acquired Wisteria Mall from BBR Holdings in 2022 for $208 million. The mall is part of the mixed-use development The Wisteria in Yishun, which includes a 216-unit condo. The opening of the new childcare centre on July 1 is the latest addition to Wisteria Mall’s offerings, providing convenience and support for families in the community.
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