HDB recently announced that from 2024, there will only be three Build-To-Order (BTO) sales launches per year instead of four and will consolidate the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise to one per year instead of two. The BTO launches are expected to be held in February, June, and October, while the SBF will be held in February.
The latest change comes as HDB announced that it completed about 21,400 flats across 23 projects last year—the highest number of completed projects since 2018. It also mentioned that the application rate from first-time buyers for all flat types has been declining and was lower at 1.9 in 2023 compared to 3.7 in 2019.
Nevertheless, home buyers can look forward to a bigger housing supply at each launch, with around 19,600 BTO flats expected to be launched in 2024. For starters, there will be a total of around 4,100 BTO flats across Bedok, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Punggol, Queenstown, and Woodlands.
Here’s what you need to know about the projects at each location:
#1 Bedok (Site 1) – 520 Units of 2-Room Flexi And 4-Room
There are two developments launched in Bedok. The first project will be located along Upper Changi Road, next to Bedok Green Primary School. It has a total of 520 units, consisting of 2-room flexi and 4-room flat types.
Amenities:
The development sits close to the heart of the well-established Bedok town and is in between the Bedok and Tanah Merah MRT stations, which are part of the East-West Line (EWL). The Bedok Town Central, which is two bus stops or around 1 km away, offers residents a wide array of amenities, which include the Bedok Shopping Mall, eateries and restaurants, supermarkets, clinics, and many others.
Another plus point of the development is its convenient proximity to three hawker centres, with The Marketplace@58 being the closest to the development. The other two Hawker Centres at Blk 16 Bedok South Road and Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre are also within a 1-km distance. Furthermore, adjacent to the development is the Bedok Sports Hall and Stadium, where future residents can access the sporting facilities conveniently.
Parents of going-to-school children would find it appealing that there are four primary schools within a 1-km distance from the development. They are Bedok Green Primary School, Fengshan Primary School, Red Swastika School, and Temasek Primary School. Additionally, other higher-level learning institutions, such as Bedok View Secondary School and Temasek Junior College, are also nearby.
Ballot for this:
Though the available mix of flat types in the development is limited, this is the “choicer” project to choose in Bedok. Residents would be able to conveniently access a wide range of amenities and facilities, given its proximity to the Bedok Town Central. Additionally, there is a good mix of educational institutions from the primary to the pre-university level near the development that might appeal to parents of school-going children.
Read Also: Complete Guide To HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) Letter
#2 Bedok (Site 2) – 430 Units of 2-Room Flexi, 4-Room, And 5-Room
The second development in Bedok will be along Bedok North Street 3 and next to Yu Neng Primary School. The project has a total of 430 units, consisting of 2-room flexi, 4-room, and 5-room flat types.
Amenities:
The development is surrounded by HDB flats and the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE), which is its only disadvantage given the noise and dust pollution that come with living close to a busy motorway. However, the development is within a short walking distance of under 500m from the Bedok Reservoir MRT station, which connects to the Downtown Line (DTL).
There are two hawker centres near the development where residents can get affordable meals or do their daily groceries. The closest and within walking distance is Blk 511 Kaki Bukit Hawker Centre, while the farther one – 3 bus stops away – is at Blk 538 Bedok North Street 3.
There are four primary schools within a 1-km distance from the development: Damai Primary School, Fengshan Primary School, Red Swastika School, and Yu Neng Primary School.
Ballot for this:
Interest in this project may spillover from the applicants of Bedok-Site 1, especially those with a bigger family nucleus, as it offers the bigger 5-room flat type. Moreover, it may also appeal to applicants who travel to their workplace by the DTL, given its close proximity to the Bedok Reservoir MRT station.
Read Also: Neighbourhood Estate Guide: Is Bedok The Best Value Estate In Terms Of Affordability And Amenities?
#3 Choa Chu Kang – 460 Units of 2-Room Flexi, 3-Room, And 4-Room
Located within Choa Chu Kang Town, the development will be part of the Pang Sua Woodland and along the rail corridor, where the Kranji Expressway (KJE) intersects with the Woodlands Road. The development will offer 460 units of 2-room flexi, 3-room, and 4-room flat types.
Amenities:
The development is one bus stop away from the Choa Chu Kang MRT station, which connects to the North-South Line (NSL). Alternatively, residents can head down to the Bukit Panjang MRT/LRT station that connects to the DTL, which is a similar distance away.
Most of the amenities are available at these two main connecting nodes, which means future residents have to travel a distance to get their daily necessities. For simple meals, residents could also head to the Senja Precinct across the development, which has neighbourhood shops and food courts.
The development might appeal to parents of school-going children as it is within 1-km of three primary schools: Teck Whye Primary School, West Spring Primary School, and West View School. Additionally, there are also other higher learning institutions, such as Choa Chu Kang Secondary School and Jurong-Pioneer Junior College.
Ballot for this:
The project could be attractive to nature lovers who would not only have access to the park connectors but also overlook the Pang Sua River within their doorstep.
#4 Hougang – 350 Units of 2-Room Flexi, 3-Room, And 4-Room
Located along the upcoming Hougang Street 13 and adjacent to Hougang Avenue 3, the current development is close to the previous 2021 BTO launch, Hougang Olive, in Hougang. The development will offer 350 units of 2-room flexi, 3-room, and 4-room flat types.
Amenities:
A light industrial estate at Lim Teck Boo Road and other recent BTO developments surround the development. It is also close to the Paya Lebar Air Base, which is expected to be relocated from 2030 onwards to free the site for redevelopment into a housing estate.
The main hubs of retail activity in the estate are at Kovan, Serangoon, and Woodleigh, which are at a considerable distance from the development.
The development is close to Maris Stella High School (Primary) and Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School, which are within a 1-km distance, including Bartley Secondary School.
Ballot for this:
This development might be of interest to home buyers who work at one of the many industries along Upper Paya Lebar Road, Kim Chuan, or Defu Lane, as it may allow them to live closer to their workplaces.
Read Also: Neighbourhood Estate Guide: Why Hougang Is No Longer The Backwater Of Singapore
#5 Punggol – 960 Units of 2-Room Flexi, 3-Room, 4-Room, And 5-Room
Located at Sumang Lane and along Sungei Punggol, the development at Punggol offers 960 units of 2-room flexi, 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room flat types.
Amenities:
The development is located at the far end of the Punggol Field and next to the Tampines Expressway (TPE). However, it is also next to a water body (Sungei Punggol) with the park connector, which connects to the Punggol Waterway within the doorstep.
As the development sits at the edge of the Punggol and Sengkang towns, residents can reach either of the town centres within a 3-to-5 bus stop. Aside from the shopping malls, residents can also enjoy the greenery at their doorstep or take a short walk to Sengkang Riverside Park or the Sengkang Sports Complex, which is 700m away.
There are three primary schools—Punggol Green Primary School, Springdale Primary School, and Valour Primary School—that are within a 1-km distance, and a few more that are between 1- and 2-km away.
Ballot for this:
The development might appeal to homebuyers seeking a vibrant and young town that is strategically positioned between Punggol and Sengkang and easily accessible by a short bus ride. Moreover, it might also appeal to homebuyers who wish for more outdoor activities given its accessibility to the river body and greenery parks.
#6 Queenstown – 250 Units of 2–Room Flexi, And 4-Room
Located along Tanglin Halt Road and Commonwealth Drive, the Queenstown development might be the only PLH project in this February 2024 BTO Sales Launch. The development offers 250 units of 2-room flexi and 4-room flat types.
Amenities:
Built on the former Tanglin Halt site, the development’s prime location within Queenstown makes it one of the hottest projects to bid for in this February 2024 BTO Sales Launch. Though it is likely to follow the same Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) status as the previous BTO development – Tanglin Halt Cascadia – launched in the December 2023 BTO Sales Exercise.
Given the location of the development, residents will be able to enjoy a wide range of amenities conveniently. The Commonwealth MRT station that connects to the EWL, is only within a 5-minute walking distance.
Other than New Town Primary School, which is just a stone’s throw away from the development, school-going children have to travel further (1-2 km) to primary schools such as Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) and Queenstown Primary School.
Ballot for this:
Homebuyers who work close to the city centre or at the One-North cluster would find this project to be appealing as they can work close to home. Furthermore, the development is surrounded by many amenities, like the Queenstown Sports Centre and Queenstown Polyclinic. This also includes the new integrated Tanglin development that will give more vibrancy and add to the amenities available to residents within a convenient reach. However, homebuyers must be willing to accept the restrictive conditions that come with a PLH project.
Read Also: Neighbourhood Estate Guide: Is Queenstown The Crown Jewel Of Housing Estates In Singapore?
#7 Woodlands – 1,120 Units of 2–Room Flexi, 3-Room, 4-Room, And 5-Room
Located at the intersection of Rosewood Drive and Woodgrove Avenue, the development offers 1,120 units of 2-room flexi, 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room flat types.
Amenities:
The development, which is located along the Seletar Expressway (SLE), is surrounded by a largely private residential enclave. Within a short walking distance from the development is The Woodgrove, a small neighbourhood mall. It offers basic amenities like a supermarket, eateries, a gym, and other services.
Future residents may need to rely on feeder bus services to get around the estate, including reaching the Woodlands Town Centre, which would take around 15 minutes. However, from the Woodlands Integrated Transport Hub, residents have access to two rail connections via the Woodlands MRT station that connect to the NSL and TEL.
Parents of school-going children would be pleased to note that there are four primary schools within a 1-km to choose from. They are Fuchun Primary School, Innova Primary School, Si Ling Primary School, and Woodgrove Primary School.
Ballot for this:
This development not only offers the greatest number of units but also a good mix of flat types, making it a suitable choice for all family sizes. Moreover, as the development is located in a non-mature town, home buyers may have a higher rate of success compared to other projects in mature towns.
Read Also: Neighbourhood Estate Guide: Why Woodlands Can Be The Star Destination Of The North
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