Some 12,000 new homes to come up on sites rezoned for housing across 11 areas
[SINGAPORE] A slew of land parcels in 11 areas across the island are set to be rezoned for housing, in a move that will give a major boost to supply in popular residential areas.
These include plots of land in established regional centres such as Toa Payoh and Tampines, where previous government land sales saw strong interest from developers and where new projects were recently launched at fresh benchmark prices.
Sites are also being lined up for rezoning or higher-density development in other in-demand housing areas such as Bedok and Pasir Ris, upcoming neighbourhoods such as Tengah, and fresh supply on the former Keppel Golf Course land.
The planning changes, proposed in amendments to the Master Plan 2019 gazetted by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday (May 7), could produce some 12,000 new housing units in both private and public projects in the near term.
A parcel carved out of the former Keppel Golf Course site, along Telok Blangah Road, has been earmarked with a high-intensity gross plot ratio of 4.3, which analysts estimate could yield up to 1,000 public housing flats. These would add to the first 740 new homes from the Keppel site, to be built on a plot being sold in this year's Government Land Sales (GLS) programme.
Lee Sze Teck, senior director of data analytics at Huttons Asia, reckons the Housing and Development Board (HDB) project will be a Prime category Build-to-Order (BTO) one.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights
Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond.
Sign Up
Sign Up
'The response to this Prime BTO is likely to be overwhelming,' he said. The last BTO project in the area, Telok Blangah Beacon, attracted more than 30 first-timers for each four-room flat in 2021, he noted. BTO prices of the four-room flats ranged from S$602,000 to S$710,000, while three-room flats were priced from S$419,000 to S$504,000. The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
In the city fringe area, Toa Payoh and Bishan may soon see new residential projects. Both locales are popular with homebuyers for their proximity to elite schools and central location. The most recent new condo launch in the area, The Orie at Toa Payoh Lorong 1, sold 86 per cent of its 777 units at S$2,704 psf on average over its launch weekend.
Plots bounded by Toa Payoh Link and Toa Payoh Rise may be rezoned to residential with commercial use on the first storey. A high gross plot ratio of 4.7 has been proposed for the area, which is next to Caldecott MRT station and could yield a total of 4,000 to 5,000 dwelling units, according to Lee.
Lee said the sites could turn out a mix of public and private homes. 'Toa Payoh is a very popular area among buyers, and almost all the four-room and five-room flats that fulfilled their minimum occupancy period in 2024/2025 achieved a selling price of S$1 million and above.'
Another parcel along Lorong 4 Toa Payoh with a proposed gross plot ratio of 3.4 could yield some 300 to 350 condo units or 200 to 250 HDB Plus flats, estimated OrangeTee's chief researcher and strategist Christine Sun.
In the Sin Ming area, a plot at Lorong Puntong spanning slightly more than 4,000 sq m is expected to be used for condo development and could see about 130 to 150 units, said Mogul.sg chief research officer Nicholas Mak.
Land plots along Upper Thomson Road are also expected to be turned into residential use, and could yield around 2,200 to 2,300 condo units, or 1,500 to 1,600 HDB flats, said Sun.
In the east, a residential site with a health and medical zone is being proposed for Tampines Street 11. With a land area of about 14,433 square metres (sq m) and gross plot ratio of 2, Sun expects the site to yield 200 to 250 HDB flats.
The site is near a GLS site also on Tampines Street 11, which was awarded in 2023 to UOL, Singapore Land and CapitaLand Development at S$1.21 billion, or S$885 per square foot per plot ratio.
The project, Parktown Residence, was launched in February 2025 and posted strong sales. About 87 per cent of the 1,193 units in the large mixed-use development were sold within the first two days, at an average of S$2,360 per square foot (psf).
In the neighbouring planning area of Pasir Ris, a parcel bound by Pasir Ris Drive 3 and Pasir Ris Drive 10 has been proposed to be rezoned as residential with a gross plot ratio of 3.2.
The site is likely to be sold under the GLS programme, said Mogul.sg's Mak, and could potentially yield 1,100 to 1,180 condominium units.
Pasir Ris has not seen a GLS site for private condo development since 2012, and demand in the east is strong, said Mak, pointing to the robust take-up rate of Parktown Residence. The last GLS site sold in Pasir Ris was developed into Vue 8 Residences.
Also in the east, Bedok South Road will see more new homes being built. Land that housed schools is expected to be rezoned to residential use, while an adjacent parcel will have its plot ratio raised. OrangeTee's Sun said the earmarked area can yield about 1,000 to 1,100 condo units or 700 to 800 HDB Standard flats.
Up in the north at Yishun, a site located near Chencharu Park is being set aside for residential use. An estimated 1,000 or more BTO Standard flats may be built on the site, said Huttons' Lee.
The government had earlier announced plans to grow a new estate in Chencharu, where it sees potential for 10,000 homes. The first GLS site to be put up for sale in Chencharu is coming up for tender on May 22, with a 3-hectare parcel on offer for 875 condo units and 13,000 sq m of commercial space.
Land parcels at Sunbird Avenue, Simei Road and Upper Changi Road may also be redeveloped into residential projects. The proposed amendments will inject more homes and amenities into the Upper Changi Road area and facilitate infrastructural works to serve future developments, noted URA.
Lee said: 'If there are flats with shorter waiting time at Chencharu, Bedok South Road, Tampines Street 11, Sunbird Avenue/Simei Road and Pasir Ris Drive 3, they may potentially pull demand away from the resale market and help to stabilise prices.'
HDB resale prices were up 1.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, lower than the 2.6 per cent price increase seen in the previous quarter.
In the west, plans are in the pipeline to redevelop several parcels within Brickland District in Tengah Town into housing sites, parks, places of worship, health and medical care facilities, educational institution and civic and community institutions.
The three parcels could yield around 1,400 flats, said OrangeTee's Sun.
Apart from housing, the URA on May 9 earmarked land parcels along Eunos Avenue 5 and Dover Road to be redeveloped into health and medical care zones.
A new nursing home is likely to be built in Dover to meet the anticipated demand for such services in the area, said the authority.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
13 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
Riding wave of voter anger, South Korea's Lee now faces policy challenges, Asia News
SEOUL - South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung rode a wave of voter anger against the December martial law attempt by his ousted predecessor, but his ability to lead will be judged by the strength of his policies. Lee's decisive victory in Tuesday's (June 3) snap election over Kim Moon-soo, the candidate for the conservative People Power Party, hands the liberal leader a resounding mandate and his Democratic Party in control of parliament. Healing the political rifts that led to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's shock martial law and its divisive aftermath will be a tall order. Analysts say both candidates were vague on their policy plans during the campaign, and Lee Jun-han, a political science professor at Incheon National University, said the results are more an indictment of Yoon and his PPP's poor performance than an endorsement of the DP. He said Kim, who opposed Yoon's impeachment, was unprepared and the PPP did not show remorse after the martial law. "(The next president) should properly interpret that the people's choice has been one-sided and reflect that in the government's operation or politics in the future," he said. "If they don't, public sentiment will fluctuate quickly." While Lee has had his eye on the presidency for years, there have been major developments since he narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 election, said Kim Jun-seok, a political science professor at Dongguk University. "Now he has restoration of democracy as one of his tasks," Kim said. "Nonetheless, there are huge challenges faced by South Korea. A grim outlook on the economy that's projected to grow maybe less than 1 per cent. And there's a crisis outside, dealing with Trump. He has a lot of work to do." Voters said they were looking for the winner of the snap election to calm the economic and political shocks that have roiled the country since Yoon's Dec 3 martial law decree led to months of economic downturn and sparked nationwide protests. Many complained, however, about a lack of specifics in policy debates. Lee has pledged to draft a second supplementary budget for the year as soon as the election is over, and promised vouchers to help local businesses and subsidies for childcare, youth, and the elderly to address growing discontent around tightening purse strings. His camp says they intend to seek more time to negotiate on trade with US President Donald Trump, but it is unclear how any request for an extension of the tariff deadline will be received in Washington. With a rise in anti-China sentiment among South Koreans and Trump's push to isolate Beijing, Lee must also tread carefully with any plans to improve ties with China. Lee has also shown sensitivity to the political winds, moderating some of his stances on China, Japan, and populist economic policies such as universal income ahead of the election. "I hope he will resuscitate the economy and get rid of insurrection forces," said Im Young-taek, 64, a small business owner. "And I do really hope he will make people comfortable. Things may not be easy with Trump but I hope he will hire capable aides and resolve the issues well." Lee's Democratic Party will control parliament, easing the passage of legislation and budgets after years of deadlock between Yoon and the legislature. That may do little to soothe political polarisation, however, with conservatives warning that Lee and the DP will steamroll over any opposition. "They have absolute power, which could lead to a departure from social unity," said Incheon University's Lee. "Since they are the absolute majority, there seems to be little check and balance to stop them." In May, a DP-led committee passed legislation aimed at changing an election law that Lee had been convicted of violating. They have also promised to pass legislation clarifying what protections presidents have from criminal investigations, a move seen as trying to reduce Lee's exposure to other ongoing charges. [[nid:718685]]
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Japan PM Ishiba vows to ‘energise' South Korea cooperation under new leader Lee
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that 'it would be good if we could hold a Japan-South Korea summit in the near future'. PHOTO: REUTERS Japan PM Ishiba vows to 'energise' South Korea cooperation under new leader Lee TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on June 4 he wanted to 'energise' cooperation with South Korea, after new centre-left President Lee Jae-myung took power. Spats over territory and a bitter dispute over Japan's use of forced labour during its decades-long 20th-century occupation of the Korean peninsula have long strained ties between the two neighbours. But the countries became closer under South Korea's disgraced former leader Yoon Suk Yeol, including through three-way talks with joint ally the United States. 'This year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Japan and Korea,' Mr Ishiba told reporters in Tokyo. 'With President Lee Jae-myung, I would like to energise cooperation between Japan and South Korea as well as between Japan, the United States and South Korea.' Mr Ishiba added that 'it would be good if we could hold a Japan-South Korea summit in the near future'. Mr Lee won a snap election held six months after a disastrous attempt to declare martial law by South Korea's ex-president Yoon plunged the country into political chaos. 'There are various public opinions inside South Korea' towards Japan, Mr Ishiba said. Mr Lee has previously taken a harder line towards the country than Yoon, including saying that the ex-president was 'submissive' to Japan, according to Yonhap news agency. 'The new president has made some statements in the past. But during the election campaign, he also said that Japan is an important partner and that he loves the Japanese people,' Mr Ishiba said. 'We will strengthen our ties with South Korea by opening our hearts and minds and engaging in active exchanges with South Korea,' he added. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
3 hours ago
- AsiaOne
South Korea's new president Lee Jae-myung vows economic revival, judgement on martial law, Asia News
SEOUL - South Korea's new liberal President Lee Jae-myung began his term on Wednesday (June 4), vowing to raise the country from the turmoil of a martial law crisis and revive an economy reeling from slowing growth and the threat of global protectionism. Lee's decisive victory in Tuesday's snap election stands to usher in a sea change in Asia's fourth-largest economy, after backlash against a botched attempt at military rule brought down Yoon Suk Yeol just three years into his troubled presidency. He faces what could be the most daunting set of challenges for a South Korean leader in nearly three decades, ranging from healing a country deeply scarred by the martial law attempt to tackling unpredictable protectionist moves by the United States, a major trading partner and a security ally. With 100 per cent of the ballots counted, Lee won 49.42 per cent of the nearly 35 million votes cast while conservative rival Kim Moon-soo took 41.15 per cent in the polls that brought the highest turnout for a presidential election since 1997, according to National Election Commission data. The 61-year-old former human rights lawyer called Tuesday's election "judgment day" against Yoon's martial law and his People Power Party's failure to stop the ill-fated move. "The first mission is to decisively overcome insurrection and to ensure there will never be another military coup with guns and swords turned against the people," Lee said in a victory speech outside parliament. "We can overcome this temporary difficulty with the combined strength of our people, who have great capabilities," he said. Lee was officially confirmed as president by the National Election Commission on Wednesday and immediately assumed the powers of the presidency and commander in chief. An abbreviated inauguration is planned at parliament at 11am, an Interior Ministry official said. Lee has said he would address urgent economic challenges facing the country on the first day in office with a focus on the cost-of-living concerns affecting middle and low-income families and the struggles of small business owners. He also faces a deadline set by the White House on negotiating import duties that Washington has blamed for a large trade imbalance between the countries. 'Deal with Trump' The government under a caretaker acting president had made little progress in trying to assuage crushing tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump's administration that would hit some of the country's major industries, including autos and steel. "President Lee will find himself with little to no time to spare before tackling the most important task of his early presidency: Reaching a deal with Trump," the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies said in an analysis. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Lee on his election win and said the countries "share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defence Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties." He also said that the countries were "modernising the Alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and address new economic challenges." The White House said the election of Lee was "free and fair" but the United States remained concerned and opposed to Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world, according to a White House official. Lee has expressed more conciliatory plans for ties with China and North Korea, in particular singling out the importance of China as a major trading partner while indicating reluctance to take a firm stance on security tensions in the Taiwan strait. Still, Lee has pledged to continue Yoon's engagement with Japan and said the alliance with the United States is the backbone of South Korea's global diplomacy. The martial law decree and the six months of ensuing turmoil, which saw three different acting presidents and multiple criminal insurrection trials for Yoon and several top officials, marked a stunning political self-destruction for the former leader and a drag on an economy already slowing growth. [[nid:718652]]
