Singapore is set to launch a total of 1,352 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats in Woodlands and Tampines by the end of June, featuring significantly reduced waiting times of around three years.
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This initiative is part of the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) ongoing efforts to accelerate housing availability.
Marsiling Peak I in Woodlands
Image: HDB
The upcoming sales exercise will include Marsiling Peak I in Woodlands, a 791-unit project offering the shortest waiting time of two years and 11 months. Located along Admiralty Road and Marsiling Lane, the development will consist of three blocks ranging from 31 to 35 storeys, featuring two-room flexi, three-, four-, and five-room flats.
The site is strategically positioned near Woodlands Checkpoint, with Woodlands and Woodlands North MRT stations approximately 2km away. The flats will boast views of nearby parks, the Strait of Johor, and the precinct's central courtyard. The design incorporates brown accents and tones inspired by the town’s wooded history. Residents will have access to nearby amenities, including a market and food centre, Causeway Point shopping complex, Woodlands Civic Centre, and Admiralty Park.
Tampines GreenTopaz
Image: HDB
In Tampines, the GreenTopaz project will feature 561 units with a slightly longer waiting time of three years and one month.
Situated near Tampines West MRT station and bounded by Tampines Avenue 1 and Tampines Street 92, the development will include four blocks of 12 or 13 storeys, offering two-room flexi, four-, and five-room flats. One block will also house 24 rental flats. Residents will benefit from on-site amenities such as eateries, a supermarket, a pre-school, and shops. Additionally, the development is near the Tampines Park Connector, which leads to Bedok Reservoir Park.
More Flats with Shorter Waiting Times
Image: HDB
This launch is the first batch of BTO flats with waiting times of less than three years to be released in 2024. HDB has committed to offering 2,000 to 3,000 shorter-waiting-time flats each year by 2025. More than 2,800 such units will be available in 2024, with a significant portion to be included in the October sales exercise. HDB has accelerated this schedule by one year, emphasizing ongoing collaboration with other agencies and construction partners.
Future Developments and Classifications
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By the end of June, more than 6,800 BTO flats will be launched, including projects in Jurong East, Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown, and Yishun. Notably, Yishun will see the first BTO launch in the new Chencharu area with a 1,270-unit project. Throughout 2024, approximately 19,600 BTO flats will be released across three sales exercises.
Starting from October, a new classification system will be introduced for BTO units, categorizing them as Prime, Plus, or Standard. Prime and Plus units, located in choicer locations, will come with stricter resale conditions, including a 10-year minimum occupation period (MOP) and a subsidy clawback. Standard flats, forming the bulk of the public housing supply, will have a five-year MOP with no significant resale restrictions.
Image: Getty Images
This accelerated rollout of HDB BTO flats with shorter waiting times and reclassification aim to improve the accessibility and affordability of public housing in Singapore, addressing the diverse needs of future homeowners. It is hoped that this swift release of HDB BTO flats will alleviate the current housing crunch and reduce the unsustainable high property prices, giving younger couples a better opportunity to own property and start their families.
