Around 1,000 BTO flats to launch at former Keppel Club site in October

Singapore will release around 1,000 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats at the former Keppel Club golf course site in October 2025, National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced on 15 May. The launch will mark the first phase of public housing at the waterfront site, which is being redeveloped into a major residential district.

The project will include two-room flexi, three-room, and four-room flats, as well as public rental housing. Located next to Berlayer Creek, the estate is positioned within a biodiverse area that holds historical maritime significance. Lee said the flats would combine “panoramic waterfront views” with the advantages of city-fringe living.

Designed with biodiversity and sustainability in mind

According to Lee, the estate will be “sensitively designed in response to the area’s rich biodiversity.” Features will include terraced landscaping, green corridors, and lush planting to support ecological connectivity. Buildings are expected to range between 19 and 46 storeys, offering residents elevated views of the southern waterfront.

An environmental study and consultations with local nature groups informed the development’s design, with efforts made to ensure ecological movement across the site.

Family-focused amenities such as a preschool and a nature-themed playground will be integrated into the neighbourhood. Green spaces will serve not only recreational purposes but also act as ecological habitats, strengthening the sustainability framework of the new town.

Part of a long-term redevelopment vision

The October launch is part of a broader redevelopment of the Keppel Club site, which will eventually deliver about 9,000 homes. Of these, two-thirds will be Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, while the remainder are expected to be private housing.

The site’s prime location near the city has raised the question of whether the new flats will be classified under the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) model. HDB stated in 2022 that locational attributes and projected market values would be among the key factors considered in making such a decision.

Under the PLH scheme, buyers enjoy enhanced subsidies to keep flats affordable but face tighter conditions on resale and rental. These include a 10-year minimum occupation period and a subsidy clawback upon resale, pegged to a percentage of the higher of the resale or valuation price.

Additional launch in Toa Payoh

In a separate update, Lee announced that about 740 flats in Toa Payoh Town (West) will be launched during the July 2025 BTO exercise. The project will be located at the junction of Toa Payoh Rise and Braddell Rise, next to Lighthouse School and within walking distance of Caldecott MRT station.

The development will include an eating house, retail shops, and a preschool. Nearby amenities such as a hawker centre and neighbourhood shops will further serve residents.

The Toa Payoh flats are part of a broader release of 5,400 units in towns including Bukit Merah, Bukit Panjang, Clementi, Sembawang, Tampines, and Woodlands.

Housing supply for 2025

Lee stressed that the government remained committed to ensuring that public housing is “affordable, inclusive, and accessible.” He said the rollout of projects near the city centre, such as at Keppel Club, would allow families to live closer to workplaces and elderly parents.

For the year as a whole, around 19,600 homes are expected to be launched under the BTO programme, reinforcing Singapore’s efforts to meet strong housing demand while maintaining price stability.