First batch of flats in new Bidadari estate to be launched this month

First batch of flats in new Bidadari estate to be launched this month
Nearly 2,140 flats in three projects in Bidadari will be launched in a Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise in the second half of November.

By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid, Channel NewsAsia
POSTED: 15 Nov 2015 13:06 UPDATED: 15 Nov 2015 15:16

SINGAPORE: The first batch of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats in the new Bidadari estate will go on sale in the second half of this month.

More than half of the 2,139 flats available – 1,229 units – will be four-room flats. Another 192 will be two-room flats under the Flexi scheme, 567 will be three-room flats and 151 will be five-room units. The flats will be progressively completed from the third quarter of 2019, HDB said.

Located in the central region of Singapore, Bidadari is a new housing area to be developed as part of Toa Payoh town. The estate comprises four districts – Alkaff, Woodleigh, Park Edge and Bartley Heights – spanning 93 hectares of land.

The first three housing projects in Bidadari to be launched in the November 2015 BTO exercise will be in Alkaff district, the largest in the estate.

(Photo: An artist's impression of the Alkaff Vista project)

The first project will be Alkaff Vista, scheduled to be ready by the third quarter of 2019. Located along Upper Serangoon Road, the project will have four residential blocks with varying heights from seven to 17 storeys, comprising 350 units of four-room and five-room flats.

(Photo: An artist's impression of Alkaff LakeView)

Alkaff LakeView will be completed next, and is expected to be ready in the last quarter of 2019. Located along Upper Aljunied Road, the project will have three 17-storey blocks comprising 531 units of three- and four-room flats.

(Photo: An artist's impression of Alkaff Courtview)

Alkaff Courtview, also located along Upper Serangoon Road, will be completed in the second quarter of 2020. The project will have six residential blocks of between six and 17 storeys, with 192 two-room flexi flats. Under the Flexi scheme, those aged 55 and above can buy these flats with a lease of between 15 and 45 years in five-year increments.

COMMUNITY IN A GARDEN

Envisioned to be a "Community in a Garden", the Bidadari estate will have features such as a new 10-hectare Bidadari Park and a greenbelt which passes through the estate from Bartley Road to Upper Serangoon Road.

(Photo: All three precincts in Alkaff district will have multi-level green decks)

The estate will also be flanked by social and commercial facilities along with pedestrian and cycling networks which aim to provide seamless access to transport nodes.

HDB’s Director of Urban Planning Lim Shu Ying said: “We hope to encourage residents to take on walking and cycling as an alternative form of transport and moving around, rather than a car. We have also planned to have more bike sharing and car-sharing within the estates so that it will be easier for residents who do not own the car to be able to move around as well.”

(Photo: Courtyard spaces in Alkaff CourtView where residents can rest and relax.)

STRONG DEMAND EXPECTED

The flats in the Alkaff district of Bidadari will be part of the 7,000 BTO flats to be launched later this month, alongside other flats in Punggol Northshore, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang and Sengkang.

Property watchers Channel NewsAsia spoke to are expecting strong demand for the Bidadari flats.

(Photo: A verandah at Alkaff CourtView with a sheltered walkway and space for residents' activities.)

"This is the first BTO launch after the raised income ceiling to S$12,000. I believe a lot of buyers have actually been holding back waiting for Bidadari launch, we will expect the take up to be very, very hot,” said ERA Realty’s Key Executive Officer Eugene Lim.

The majority of the buyers are expected to be families and those planning to start a family, he said, adding that the flats are likely to attract those with young children as the estate is located near several reputable schools.

“Even though this was previously a cemetery, there is already a success story in the case of Bishan, where the flats are among the most highly priced in Singapore and highly sought after," Mr Lim said.

Mr Chris Koh, director of estate agency Chris International, said buyers will likely have to pay a premium for the flats due to their central location. He expects prices to be 10 per cent higher than flats in Punggol and Sengkang.

Demand for the two-room flexi flats, which are open to those above the age of 55, will also likely be high, he said.

- CNA/cy

- wong chee tat :)