NEA to appoint new operator for One Punggol Hawker Centre after Timbre exits early

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) will seek a new operator for One Punggol Hawker Centre in January 2026, following the early exit of its current operator, Timbre+ Hawkers, a year before its scheduled tenancy end.

In a media release, NEA said Timbre will continue operating the hawker centre until 14 August 2026. By then, the operator would have completed its initial two-year tenancy and two of the three years under its second term.

Timbre announced on 29 December 2025 that it would cut short its tenancy, originally due to end on 14 August 2027.

The company said the early conclusion was reached through mutual agreement with NEA.

According to Timbre Group, the decision took into account “overall operational considerations and prevailing market conditions”. NEA added that Timbre had indicated the tenancy posed challenges for its ongoing operations at the hawker centre.

One Punggol Hawker Centre has been operated by Timbre since its opening in 2022.

The venue, which houses 34 stalls, is designated as a socially conscious enterprise hawker centre.

NEA said Timbre will not participate in the upcoming open tender to appoint a new operator. The agency added that the process would begin in January 2026 to ensure continuity of operations.

Both NEA and Timbre stressed that measures are in place to ensure a smooth transition. Timbre said it would work closely with NEA to minimise disruption to stallholders, patrons, and the surrounding community.

NEA stated that Timbre “has committed to uphold the vibrancy of One Punggol Hawker Centre until the conclusion of the tenancy”. Timbre also confirmed that there would be no changes to stallholders’ rentals and ancillary fees during the transition period.

In its statement, Timbre said it “remains dedicated to its role as a responsible operator of public dining spaces across its portfolio of placemaking venues”. The company also expressed appreciation to NEA for its guidance and support.

NEA outlined protections for hawkers under the new operating arrangement. The incoming operator will be required to retain all existing individual stallholders who wish to continue for at least two years.

During this period, current rental rates will be maintained for the first year. Any subsequent rental adjustments will be capped at market-valued rental averages, NEA said.

“The well-being of existing individual stallholders is a priority for NEA,” the agency said, adding that it remains committed to supporting hawkers and patrons while improving socially conscious enterprise hawker centres.

Socially conscious enterprise hawker centres operate under a different model from traditional hawker centres. Operators propose stall rents upfront as part of their tender bids to NEA.

Under the framework, operators are not allowed to vary hawkers’ rents during the tenancy term or subject stall rentals to bidding, providing greater cost certainty for stallholders.

Earlier in 2025, Timbre faced public criticism over its management of Yishun Park Hawker Centre, another socially conscious enterprise hawker centre under its portfolio.

Food critic KF Seetoh criticised Timbre over rental levels, the use of closed-circuit television cameras, and the imposition of fines at the Yishun venue, drawing attention to broader concerns about the operating model.

In February 2023, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu reported that 12 SEHCs were then in operation.

She said the median stall rent was S$1,700, compared with around S$1,250 for non-subsidised cooked food stalls in NEA-managed hawker centres between 2015 and 2023.