New residential estates in Sengkang could contain 10,000 homes
According to proposed plans for a residential estate near the Tampines expressway (TPE) Singapore is able to build 10,000 new homes on a large parcel of land in Fernvale North, Sengkang.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is working on an 18.9ha site bordered by Jalan Kayu, Fernvale Street, the TPE and the soon-to-be Sengkang West Drive for housing.
Proposed changes to the URA master plan that were released on April 29 reveal that the proposed site, which property experts say could be home to a mix of public and private projects, will have parks, a place for worship, as well as a health and medical facility.
URA stated that the development will meet the demand for housing in the region and give residents “commercial, recreational, social and communal amenities, as well as better access to parks and better road connectivity”.
The site, which measures approximately 35 football fields in size, is near Seletar West and the Seletar West Aerospace Park.
Two LRT stations are nearby, Thanggam and Kupang. In addition, Sengkang Riverside Park is near by.
The proposed amendments include adjusting the plot ratio of land parcels from 3.9 to 4.2. The plot ratio is used to determine the amount of development that can be done on a parcel of land.
Property analysts believe the site could produce between 8 to 12,000 units.
Ms Christine Sun is the chief researcher and strategist for OrangeTee Group. She said that a mixture of Build-To Order (BTO) condominiums and executive condos could be built.
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She added that there may be a lingering demand for BTO apartment units in Sengkang since the last time a project was launched in the city was in 2019.
There are residents who be within the region for a period of 10 to 20 years and are now looking to move into private homes. Parents may also wish to relocate and live closer to their children who are living in these zones,” she added, noting that the large area could accommodate this need.
Eugene Lim, ERA Singapore’s chief executive officer, stated that the site’s area is “strategically placed” to help support those working in the nearby Punggol District Digital as well as Seletar Aerospace Park.
He pointed out that an undeveloped industrial enclave in Seletar West Road is situated approximately 2km from the Fernvale site.
He suggested that the location could attract people to help develop commercial and industrial areas in the area.
The Seletar Link Flyover, near the Fernvale plot, was inaugurated in January. The flyover connects Seletar Link to TPE in order to accommodate the expected growth in traffic due to new developments in Punggol.
When it is completed, the brand newly constructed Sengkang West Drive will provide motorists with a second road to Sengkang town.
Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Gan Thiam Poh, who oversees the Fernvale area in Sengkang, believes that the huge residential lot could help fill the housing shortage in the region.
He added: “I’ve received requests from Sengkang locals – some said they were getting married and want to be close to their parents. Others have said they would like to renovate their home to accommodate their growing children.”
“I have contacted the relevant authorities about the requests and am glad this plot is developing.”
Two LRT stations in the vicinity will allow future residents of Sengkang to have access to other facilities.
In Bukit Panjang, new houses could be built on the former site of Greenridge Secondary School.
The school, which had been at the Bukit Panjang Ring Road site since 1992, merged with Fajar Secondary School in 2023 and relocated to the latter’s site on Gangsa Road.
URA had suggested rezone the 33,195 sq m area from a school to a residential development to meet the growing demand for housing in the area. This would also provide more residents with access to amenities as well as public transport.
Ms Sun said the plot could yield about 700 flats, or 1,000 private apartment units. She said it’s most likely to be an BTO project because of the shortage of new apartments in the estate.
The most recent BTO project to be launched in Bukit Panjang was Petir Park Edge in December 2023. It comprised two-room flats with a flexi roof and 191 four-room units. The last time a BTO project was launched prior to this project was in the year 2016.
Mr Lim stated that 550-650 units with four and five-room flats are possible to be built on the plot since there was an absence of larger units being launched in the estate.
