As part of the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Master Plan 2014,[2] Paya Lebar Central[3] was identified as one of the five growth areas.

It was since earmarked as an up-and-coming commercial hub, in line with the wider decentralisation strategy to ensure the city's sustainable growth.

[4] Due to the swamp, the area mainly consisted of squatters who reared pig and poultry and also grew market produce.

[4] The Singapore International Airport was built in Paya Lebar from 1952 to 1955, and opened on 20 August that year by the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Alan Lennox-Boyd.

It became a complete military airbase in 1981 when Singapore Changi Airport was opened and was subsequently renamed as Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) in the same year.