Chee Hong Tat: 12 ongoing BTO projects have waiting times exceeding five years

SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat has revealed that there are currently 120 Build-to-Order (BTO) projects under construction, of which 12 have waiting times exceeding five years. Among these, Ulu Pandan Banks and River Peaks I and II have the longest waits of close to six years.

Chee made the statement in a written response to a Parliamentary question from Yio Chu Kang SMC Member of Parliament Yip Hon Weng.

Yip had asked how many ongoing projects have waiting times above five years, the reasons behind such delays, and how the Housing and Development Board (HDB) is using technology to improve productivity.

Chee said waiting times are disclosed to applicants at launch and depend on each project’s conditions and constraints.

He explained that longer timelines are typically caused by more stringent environmental management and monitoring requirements, or challenging ground conditions that extend the time required for piling and underground service works.

To shorten waiting periods, HDB is enhancing productivity through the use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

Chee outlined three focus areas: First, greater standardisation and modularisation to streamline construction; second, the adoption of robotics and automation, including painting robots; and third, the use of digital platforms to better coordinate design and construction workflows.

“Through these efforts, close to 70% of flats launched over the past three years had waiting times of four years or less,” Chee said.

Yishun BTO applicants frustrated over ‘8-year wait’ for home completion and its impact on lives

His remarks come amid growing public frustration over long delays at projects such as Vanda Breeze @ Yishun.

The development, launched in November 2022, has become the subject of online discussion after applicants learned of its extended completion schedule.

According to posts on Reddit and Google Reviews, Vanda Breeze is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2029, with move-in likely around 2030.

Some buyers described it as an “eight-year wait,” while others said the duration felt “close to a decade.”

In response, HDB stated that the project’s timeline has remained unchanged since launch.

It clarified that the average waiting period is approximately 67 months — about 5.7 years — when calculated from the median flat selection month in November 2022 to the median block’s completion date.

HDB explained that the Vanda Breeze site posed unique challenges. It is heavily vegetated and located near a proposed park, requiring additional time for environmental mitigation and site preparation before construction could begin.

Such measures, the board said, were necessary to minimise ecological impact and ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards.

The 961-unit development comprises 2-room, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room flats.

Separately, on 12 October 2025, HDB announced 3,300 BTO flats with waiting times of less than three years in the October sales exercise.

These 3,294 units will span four projects in Bedok, Sengkang and Yishun.

One of them, Yishun Glade — located near Vanda Breeze — will feature a shorter waiting time of under three years.

HDB said the project is part of its Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) initiative, which involves identifying suitable sites early and starting construction up to two years before project launch.

HDB said such initiatives, along with digitalisation and automation, are critical in improving construction resilience while keeping timelines transparent for future homeowners.