HDB launches four more BTO projects

Source : Business Times – 16 Dec 2009

THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) yesterday launched four new build-to-order (BTO) projects – including two highly anticipated developments in Queenstown – bringing the total supply of BTO units to 13,500 this year.

2,670 new units are being offered in the latest BTO exercise – the largest number of flats at any one launch in recent years, HDB said.

The Queenstown projects are SkyVille@Dawson and SkyTerrace@Dawson. HDB expects an overwhelming response for the 1,718 premium flats in these developments, even though the homes are dearer than units at the other two BTO developments.

This is because SkyVille@Dawson and SkyTerrace@Dawson are near Singapore’s city centre and also close to Queenstown MRT station. Plans to rejuvenate Dawson estate were announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2007.

The two other projects are Montreal Dale at Sembawang and Segar Grove at Bukit Panjang.

The total flat supply at all four projects comprises 105 studio apartments, and 231 two-room, 643 three-room, 1,489 four-room and 202 five-room flats.

‘These four projects, spread across three towns, offer home-buyers a wide range of options to suit their budgets and preferences,’ HDB said.

Some 95 per cent of the two, three, four and five-room flats will be set aside for first-timers.

Flat buyers can also look forward to more BTO projects next year. HDB said that it is prepared to launch at least one BTO project every month if there is sustained demand for new flats. For starters, in January, prospective buyers can expect 1,300 BTO flats at Choa Chu Kang and Hougang.

HDB also said that it is piloting two schemes for the Dawson projects – a flexi-layout scheme for SkyVille@Dawson and a multi-generational living scheme in SkyTerrace@Dawson. The former will give buyers more flat design options, while the latter allows parents and married children to buy paired flats.