Archive for category: Misc

The latest Build-To-Order (BTO) sales exercise in October will offer 9,100 flats for sale, including 3,294 Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) flats, according to a press release by HDB on Oct 12. These SWT flats have a waiting time of less than three years and will be available in four BTO projects in Bedok, Sengkang, and Yishun, offering two-room flexi to 3Gen flats, as well as Community Care Apartments (CCA) for seniors.

Revamped to seamlessly connect with rail options, the Pasir Ris Bus Interchange now offers reliable last-mile transportation to the bustling coastal area. Commuters can easily hop on buses from Jalan Loyang Besar to reach the interchange, with direct routes also available for major roads such as Pasir Ris Drive 3, Elias Road, and Loyang Avenue. Both early risers and late workers can benefit from frequent bus schedules, while families can rely on the buses to access nearby schools, enrichment hubs, and shopping centers. For those looking for a peaceful coastal retreat, the newly launched Coastal Cabana Pasir Ris is just a short distance away from the interchange, making it a convenient and desirable location to reside in.

With this October exercise, a total of 4,690 SWT flats have been launched this year, surpassing HDB’s earlier target of 4,500 units. In the next two years, HDB plans to roll out around 4,000 SWT flats annually to address housing demand and shorten waiting times for buyers.

The SWT units make up over a third of the October BTO launch, indicating a deliberate shift by HDB to cater to evolving buyer needs, says Eugene Lim, key executive office at ERA Singapore. “By introducing more SWT flats, HDB aims to attract first-time buyers who might otherwise turn to the resale market due to urgency, thereby helping to stabilize resale prices that have been climbing in recent years.”

Two of the four SWT projects are located in Yishun, with an estimated waiting time of 2 years and 7 months. Yishun Glade, situated at the corner of Yishun Street 31 and Yishun Ring Road, has 569 units across four 15-storey residential blocks offering two-room flexi and four-room flats. It features recreational facilities such as a children’s playground, fitness stations, a rooftop garden, and a senior care center. Nearby amenities include Junction 9, Yishun Mall, and Yishun Public Library.

The other SWT project in Yishun is Chencharu Grove, situated along Bah Soon Pah Road and Chencharu Link. The development has 826 units across six residential blocks, offering two-room flexi to five-room flats. The project is close to Khatib MRT Station on the North-South Line and amenities such as Khatib Central, Wisteria Mall, Northpoint City, and Yishun Hawker Centre.

Lim expects Chencharu Grove to be one of the most sought-after projects in the October BTO exercise due to its proximity to the MRT station and schools like Peiying Primary, Naval Base Secondary, and Chung Cheng High (Yishun). He adds that the project will likely attract larger households due to the inclusion of five-room units. The project will also feature a 418-unit Single Room Shared Facilities (SRSF) public rental block, replacing the pilot site at the former Anderson Junior College hostel along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8.

In Sengkang, along Fernvale Street, Fernvale Plains will comprise five residential blocks, including a rental block, offering 830 units spanning two-room flexi, four-room, five-room, along with 207 CCA units. The project will feature shared community spaces such as gardens, fitness stations, and a preschool, and is close to Seletar Mall, Fernvale Community Club, and Compass One. The estimated waiting time is 2 years and 8 months.

The final SWT project, Ping Yi Court, is located along Chai Chee Street in Bedok. It will comprise five 15-storey blocks with 862 units, ranging from two-room flexi to 3Gen flats. Designed around a central courtyard, the development will include amenities such as a preschool, playground, rooftop garden, and fitness stations. Residents will enjoy convenient access to Kaki Bukit 511 Market and Food Centre, Bedok Mall, and Heartbeat@Bedok, with the Bedok and Kembangan MRT stations (on the East-West Line) within walking distance. This project has the longest waiting time among the four, at 2 years and 9 months.