Queenstown library, a former wet market and Alexandra Hospital, will be gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority as part of its upcoming Master Plan.

This comes after a conservation paper was submitted to the agency by civic group My Community in July. The paper, which was four years in the making, also listed 15 other sites in the area and was backed by 1,000 residents.

Residents The Straits Times spoke to said they welcomed the move and were particularly pleased with the conservation of the Queenstown Public Library which was officially opened by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1970.

"It's a landmark worthy of preservation - it helps tell the story of Queenstown so it's wonderful that it gets to stay," said longtime resident Mr James Tan, 56, who is semi-retired. The announcement was made by Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin at the agency's Architectural Heritage Awards presentation ceremony held this evening.