Land Acquisition and Resettlement: Securing Resources for Development

Land is among a country’s most critical resources: this is especially true for a small and densely populated city-state like Singapore. For land to be developed in a sustainable manner, there need to be effective policies that allow the state to acquire land where required for public benefit. The pace, nature and primary purpose of land acquisition and resettlement in Singapore have evolved over the decades, reflecting the changing priorities and challenges of the nation. This study reviews the development of Singapore’s land acquisition journey, charts the key milestones and provides an analysis of the role of land acquisition in a rapidly changing modern state.