Scarce Space, From CBD Towers to Shop Rows

Published 15 October 2026

Owners and occupiers of hard-to-find space had two stories to follow in mid-October 2026. On 13 October 2026, Stacked Homes compared prime offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, and EdgeProp reported a rare strata shop offer in the Binjai Park area of Bukit Timah on the same day.

In the office report, a research house cited by Stacked Homes credits rent growth more to limited supply than to rising demand; the shop offer shows a similar scarcity at street level.

Gourmet Xchange briefing: how tight is prime CBD office space?

Very tight at the top end. A research house cited by Stacked Homes put core CBD Grade A vacancy at 2.7% in 3Q2026, down from 3.3% a quarter earlier, while core CBD Grade A rents rose 1.8% quarter on quarter and 6.1% year on year. Stacked Homes noted that no major new Grade A tower has opened in the CBD since 2024. The next wave is dated: Newport Tower is due in 2027, followed by The Clifford, The Skywaters and One Comcentre in 2028.

Gourmet Xchange briefing: which occupiers are driving CBD leasing?

According to Stacked Homes, most new-to-market tenants are technology firms and non-bank financial companies, fintechs among them. The research house it cites sees no structural weakening in leasing, though occupiers are weighing their space needs carefully. Flexible co-working space often serves as a first step before a tenant moves up to a higher-quality building, a flight-to-quality pattern. Stacked Homes reported that OpenAI is said to be moving from co-working space into the newly completed Shaw Tower, taking about 100,000 sq ft.

Gourmet Xchange briefing: why are strata shop units so closely held?

EdgeProp reported on 13 October 2026 that a strata-titled commercial unit in the Binjai Park shophouse row is offered by expression of interest, closing at 3 pm on 2 November 2026. Both EdgeProp and Stacked Homes quoted the marketing agent as saying about 16 such units sit in the row, and Stacked Homes reported that commercial ownership in the estate stays tightly held. The unit, about 1,388 sq ft on a 999-year leasehold, is sold with its existing tenancy, which Stacked Homes identified as a tuition centre.

Gourmet Xchange briefing: where do food and beverage operators fit in?

Stacked Homes reported on 14 October 2026 that food and beverage openings are growing as tourism rises, while shophouse rents were broadly unchanged in 3Q2026 against a year earlier. Buying activity in the shophouse segment slowed during 2026, which market watchers link to a tough macroeconomic climate. The marketing agent expects the Binjai Park unit to draw investors, family offices and owner-occupiers such as boutique operators and wellness or education businesses.

Food businesses that prefer to own production space can look at Gourmet Xchange at 1 Kallang Way in District 13, a strata food industrial development by CapitaLand Development. It comprises The Xchange, a nine-storey B2 (Food) ramp-up block; Heritage Terrace, a restored three-storey B1 (Food) building from the 1980s; and Central Plaza, with 272 units in total on a 33-year JTC lease from 17 February 2025. Sales booking opened on 13 March 2026, TOP is expected in 2028 and vacant possession by 31 March 2029. The location page covers access around Kallang Way.

Operators can request the unit availability list from the Sales Concierge via the enquiry page.

Source: Stacked Homes, 13 and 14 October 2026; EdgeProp, 13 October 2026.

General information only, not financial or legal advice.

Source: Stacked Homes. This article is independent commentary; Gourmet Xchange is not affiliated with the parties mentioned.