With sambal stingray, Hokkien mee and other delicacies at Chomp Chomp hawker centre, and a distinctive roundabout at Serangoon Gardens Way, it's no wonder Serangoon Gardens has been named as a special heritage site.

Serangoon Gardens has been designated an "identity node" by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, and the future of the Serangoon Gardens Circus is safe.

"Identity nodes" are places with distinctive character, such as Pulau Ubin, Thomson Village and Balestier, so efforts are made to retain some of their unique characteristics, like roundabouts or conserved shophouses. The designation is also conferred on Holland Village and Jalan Kayu.

Chomp Chomp holds centrestage in Serangoon Gardens, which housed British soldiers in the 1950s.

In 2001, public areas in the private, mostly landed estate received a facelift under the government's Estate Upgrading Scheme.

Now, street-block plans will be drawn up to guide new developments so they retain the area's identity and charm.