Residents of Serangoon Gardens were upset when news got to them that the former Serangoon Gardens Technical School will be converted to a dormitory to house foreign workers. The vacant building is located at Burghley Drive.

Serangoon Gardens is one of the oldest residential estate in Singapore. Mainly middle class, the  estate comprises mostly landed properties. A petition against the move, with more than 1000 signatures, have been presented to their MPs.

The Ministry of National Development, on 3 Oct 2008, announced that they will proceed with the dormitory development.