Government to build HDB flats in prime locations

Will prices be as affordable?

The Singapore Government shrugged off qualms about steep prices as it revealed it has ongoing initiatives to improve the city-state’s “HDB experience” with new flats on the rise at prime areas.

In his speech at Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum at the National University of Singapore Thursday last week, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong unveiled plans to expand the new HDB town in Punggol to Punggol North, where the new campus of the Singapore Institute of Technology will be built and integrated with a business park.

“Punggol town is very different and is beautiful with lush greenery and waters, and has amenities and facilities, and dedicated walking and cycling paths. It is a beautiful place to stay, and we are going to make it even better,” Wong shared.

The government has started selling Punggol Northshore flats along the waterfront under the BTO scheme. The first phase was sold a year ago and the rest of the phases will be released in the years ahead.

“If anyone of you are looking at buying a flat, you can consider one of these beautiful HDB living in a new town right next to Punggol town,” Wong told the university students.

Aside from new flats in Punggol, a “Forest Town” will rise in Tengah, a lush green landscape in the west of the city-state, that will soon link residents to the Western Catchment and the Central Catchment areas.

“It will be a beautiful setting linked to Jurong, near the Jurong Lake District, the second CBD which I have mentioned; we are going to start selling the first batch of flats from 2018 onwards,” the minister explained.

Despite the exciting plans, Wong admitted that HDB prices will be an utmost issue for Singaporeans.

“I know it’s a concern for many young Singaporeans - so our assurance to Singaporeans is we are building more HDB flats and they are in beautiful, well-designed estates, and we will always keep it affordable for Singaporeans only,” Wong said.