Tampines Regional Centre – A Vibrant Shopping Haven

The Tampines Regional Centre was first developed in Singapore in 1992. After three decades, it has become one of the most established and vibrant regional centres with a wide range of amenities and nature parks, catering to residents and workers in the eastern region of Singapore.

However, it is set for major improvements under its new 5-year master plan (more of this below).

Tampines Central alone is home to four popular shopping malls, making it a vibrant place for leisure, entertainment and recreation. Unsurprisingly, the Tampines Regional Centre has become a sought-after place to live, work, study and play.

This is because, other than shopping malls, the district also offers a wide selection of schools, higher educational institutions, leisure and lifestyle facilities, supermarkets, healthcare facilities, and more. Additionally, it is blessed with many nature parks, providing residents with a green and serene living environment. This greatly enhances the district's appeal, making it a highly sought-after property investment hotspot in Singapore.

Properties in Tampines benefit from the strong demand from those working in the Changi Business Park, Changi Airport, SUTD (Singapore University of Technology and Design), and the neighbouring Data Centres.

Given the mega-developments planned for the Changi Region and Paya Lebar Airbase, they will offer increased job opportunities while fuelling property demand.

In the last 10-year period (as of 22 February 2025), both new launch and resale condo prices in Tampines (District 18) have risen significantly (see Chart 1 below). They have appreciated by 44.69% and 74.23% respectively. Although new launches seem to have underperformed, this can be attributed to the lack of new property launches since Q1 2022.

However, with the launch of Parktown Residence and Aurelle of Tampines EC in February 2025, they can be expected to lift the overall prices.

Tampines Shopping Malls

As mentioned, four popular Tampines shopping malls have provided residents with various lifestyle experiences and daily conveniences. These shopping malls have helped to create a retail ecosystem where shoppers can indulge in its diverse offerings. They are all within a short walk from the Tampines MRT station and bus interchange. These four shopping malls located in Tampines Central are:

• Tampines Mall
• Tampines 1
• Century Square
• Our Tampines Hub (OTH)

For those who think these neighbourhood shopping malls are boring, think again! The area is full of buzz on both weekdays and weekends as Tampines is also a commercial hub where many international banks have set up operations. These include OCBC, DBS, UOB, Citibank and Standard Chartered. No wonder it has been dubbed the CBD of the East. Besides banks, many major corporations operating there include AIA, NTUC Income and the CPF Board.

 

Tampines Mall

Tampines Mall first started operation in 1995 and consists of 314,669 square feet of retail floor space. Located only about 180m walk from Tampines MRT station, it provides a varied mix of shopping, dining and entertainment options to meet the needs of mostly middle-income consumers living and working around the bustling estate.

Besides fashion, beauty products, sportwear, home essentials, there is also a food court and NTUC Fairprice supermarket. Other than groceries and fresh produce, the supermarket also sells health & personal care, cosmetics & fragrances, homeware and appliances, baby essentials and many other products.

For those looking to fill up their tummy, the food court sells a wide variety of cuisines ranging from Chinese, Malay, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese to Western. There are also several fast-food outlets such as McDonald’s and Pizza Hut catering to people looking for a quit bite.

Tampines Mall is also family-friendly, where nursing room, complimentary loan of baby stroller and wheelchair are provided.

 

Tampines 1

Tampines 1 is a haven for fashionistas and foodies due to its dazzling array of renowned international fashion brands and trendy dining concepts. With 179 retail and dining outlets, shoppers can find a variety of carefully curated stable of lifestyle, beauty and fashion brands. These include Daniel Wellington, The Editor’s Market, MUJI, Under Armour, VANS, Sephora, Watsons and household names such as Cold Storage and Daiso.

Just like Tampines Mall, it offers a myriad of dining offerings to tempt even the most discerning palates. There are many Asian and international delights to choose from. The mall also boasts of a wildlife-themed children playground on the roof-top which will provide families with young children many hours of fun.

 

Century Square

Another popular Tampines shopping mall is Century square. A 6-storey shopping mall which started operation in 1995, it underwent an expansion in 2005 and renovations in 2018. Now, the new Century Square showcases curated offers, new-to-market concepts, and many exciting brands to differentiate it from the other competing malls nearby.

Cladded in a modern new façade, it offers entertainment and F&B options for the discerning shoppers. Some to the popular food outlets include Haidilao Hotpot, Ichiban Baoshi, Nakhon Kitchen and many more. Shoppers to the mall will also get to enjoy a wide variety of family-friendly services and activity spaces such as large nursing rooms, family car park lots, roof deck with communal spaces, 24-hour gymnasium and the National Library Board’s first-of-its-kind virtual library on Level 4.

 

Our Tampines Hub (OTH)

Our Tampines Hub (OTH) is Singapore’s largest integrated community and lifestyle hub, bringing together multiple agencies and offering a comprehensive range of services and facilities. These include sports facilities, a regional library, community club, hawker centre, retail shops and facilities for various programmes such as swimming and art and craft.

Some of the sports facilities that can be found in Our Tampines Hub are:

• A high-tech bowling centre
• Futsal courts
• In-line hockey court
• Tennis courts
•  A 1,800 seat Team Sports Hall can host matches for floorball, handball, volleyball, basketball and sepak takraw

For families with young children, there are various children areas such as the Kids’ Play Zone & Chill Zone on Level 4. The Kids’ Play Zone features a bouncy castle and a LED screen showcasing the latest animated movies. There are also comfortable seats for parents to rest and relax while watching their children play.

The Chill Zone is a popular hangout among students for studying, as well as those who wish to take a short break to enjoy some bonding time with friends. There are board games that can be borrowed from the Information Counter to play within these zones and they also have access to complimentary Wi-Fi.

 

Tampines Retail Park

Beside the shopping malls, the Tampines Retail Park is another popular shopping destination and is well known for its three megastores, namely IKEA Tampines, Giant Hypermarket and Courts Megastore. It is frequented not only for residents in Tampines, but also those living in neighbouring estates such as Pasir Ris, Bedok, Sengkang and Punggol.

There are 4 different shuttle bus services originating from Pasir Ris, Tampines, Bedok and Sengkang MRT stations that ferry shoppers to and from Tampines Retail Park. The shuttle services to Tampines and Bedok runs on a daily basis, while the Pasir Ris and Sengkang shuttle services only run on Weekends and Public Holidays.

 

Tampines Regional Centre - Promising Investment Prospect

Given the galore of amenities within the Tampines Regional Centre, it has become a self-sufficient housing estate. Hence, residents need not travel to the city for their retail therapy despite being served by the excellent MRT network. Unsurprisingly, it has become a popular place to live, work, play and study among many Singaporeans and expatriates.

And given its close proximity to new economic growth corridors in Paya Lebar Airbase and the Changi Region, it is well-placed to take advantage of Singapore’s future developments. This will further fuel demand for homes in the Tampines Regional Centre.

This was seen from the strong demand for new developments such as Pasir Ris 8 and Tenet EC as they offer astute property investors the first-mover advantage.

 

URA's Future Plans for Tampines Regional Centre

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) plans to redevelop Tampines Town Centre, enhancing its connectivity and amenities. The development includes new mixed-use buildings with homes, commercial spaces, and an integrated transport hub around Tampines MRT Station.

This will improve accessibility and create a comprehensive range of facilities, making the area more attractive for residents and businesses.

The addition of sheltered paths and underground passages will make it easier for people to walk to nearby areas like Our Tampines Hub and Sun Plaza Park.

These changes aim to rejuvenate the area, improving convenience and quality of life, which could further boost property values.

 

Tampines Town Council’s Five-year Masterplan for 2025 to 2030

To further refresh the Tampines Regional Centre, its Town Council launched a five-year master plan for 2025 to 2030 on 22 February 2025. The plan focuses on infrastructure improvements to enhance and solidify the region's position as Singapore's most well-connected town.

The master plan will also seek to elevate the living standards of residents and the key components include:

Connectivity Enhancements

• A cycling bridge
• An underpass
• An additional 7.7km of cycling paths, bringing the total to 40km
• A pedestrian route between Tampines MRT station and the town's malls to enhance walkability

Development of a Pedestrian-Friendly Town Centre

• Transformation of part of Tampines Central 5 into a pedestrianised street between the malls and Tampines MRT station
• Exploration of an Osaka Street Market concept for a new integrated transport hub

Community Spaces and Amenities

• Reimagined Tampines Central Park with play zones, fitness amenities, and multi-sports courts
• Features that promote wellness and relieve stress
• Senior-friendly infrastructure such as upcycled MRT seats as resting spots and more overhead bridges with lifts

New Community Club

• A new community club located along Tampines Avenue 11 is expected to be ready in 2029
• The community club will be part of a mixed-use development that includes Parktown Mall, bus interchange, MRT station, hawker centre and residential units at Tampines North

If you are interested in new launches in the eastern side of Singapore, some of the recent new launches are Parktown Residence, Aurelle of Tampines EC, Kassia and Bagnall Haus. To receive the latest information, please feel free to WhatsApp or Email us.

Besides the Tampines Regional Centre, you may also wish to consider the following property hotspots in Singapore:

• Jurong Lake District
• Greater Southern Waterfront
• Woodlands Regional Centre
• one-north
• Bayshore & Long Island
• Tampines Regional Centre
• Newton & Novena

 

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