1st Quarter 2017 and Woodlands

1st Quarter 2017 and Woodlands

HDB Resale Market. The Resale Price Index (RPI) fell by 0.5%, from 134.6 in 4th Quarter 2016 to 133.9 in 1st Quarter 2017. Resale transactions fell by 9.6%, from 5,012 cases in 4th Quarter 2016 to 4,530 cases in 1st Quarter 2017. In May 2017, HDB will offer about 4,600 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and about 3,000 balance flats for sale.

Woodlands Set for Makeover as Star Destination of the North:

In April 2017 Minister for National Development Mr Lawrence Wong announced the renewal plans for Woodlands, at the launch of the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) exhibition for Woodlands.

Woodlands, Toa Payoh and Pasir Ris are the latest batch of towns to be renewed under the ROH programme. The renewal plans will focus on strengthening the character, community, and connectivity of each town.

In drawing up the rejuvenation plans, HDB had actively engaged residents and stakeholders to seek their views and suggestions on the plans. For the first time, residents from the three towns were invited in the early stages of the planning, to participate in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A total of 11 discussion sessions was conducted, involving some 400 residents and community stakeholders from the three towns. With the views gathered from residents, HDB has refined the plans for each town to ensure that the improvements will benefit residents of all ages.

The plans for Woodlands comprise several major improvements to transform the town into the “Star Destination of the North”, in keeping with its status as the northern regional centre and gateway to Singapore.

Six "Star Attractions", in the form of new recreational and residential developments, will be introduced to revitalise Woodlands. The existing neighbourhood centres in Woodlands will also be enhanced to bring more greenery and better connectivity to the town.

The Woodlands Regional Centre, comprising Woodlands Central and Woodlands North Coast, is set to become an even more vibrant hub of activity, with better connectivity and new commercial and residential developments.

As part of the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL), three new MRT stations will be introduced in Woodlands by 2019 to serve residents in the town. This will be joined to the future Johor Bahru – Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. Together with the future North-South Corridor, travel from the north to the rest of Singapore will be seamless and convenient.

In Woodlands Central, a new Town Plaza will be built next to the Woodlands MRT station, in response to residents' suggestion for a bigger community space. This will offer a convenient and vibrant community node for Woodlands residents to come together to participate in community events.

Residents can also look forward to new housing developments in Woodlands. Within Woodlands Central, there will be a landmark residential development located near the MRT station, integrated with a vibrant Pedestrian Mall with commercial and community facilities.  

In Woodlands North Coast, a new residential development will offer a “Housing-in-the-Woods” experience. Drawing from its natural setting and proximity to Admiralty Park, lush landscaping will be introduced as green extensions from Admiralty Park. The project will leverage on the hilly terrain, so residents will be able to enjoy good views of the park and the Straits of Johor.

Beyond new housing developments, the Woodlands Waterfront – a popular recreation spot in the northern tip – will be transformed. A new rustic park, with trails and a nature promenade, will enable residents to enjoy abundant greenery even as they unwind by the waterfront.

In response to residents' suggestions for a direct connection from Woodlands Central to the Woodlands waterfront, a new scenic WoodsVista Gallery will be developed to connect the two areas. Set amidst lush greenery, the WoodsVista Gallery will be a 1.9-kilometre-long community link with dedicated cycling and pedestrian paths. Residents will be able to walk, jog or cycle seamlessly from the Woodlands MRT station to the waterfront; or simply relax and take in scenic views of the town at strategically located rest points and activity nodes.

The Woodlands Town Garden located at Marsiling will be upgraded and expanded into a new “Discovery Playground”, where residents can enjoy the garden anew and learn about the history of the town. It will feature a new boardwalk, children's playground, a heritage corner and a learning lane with storyboards to showcase the heritage of the town. When completed, the revamped Woodlands Town Garden will be renamed Marsiling Park, and will offer yet another recreational spot for Woodlands residents.

Next to the upcoming Woodlands South MRT station on the TEL, a new integrated healthcare complex will be developed. To be called the Woodlands Health Campus, it will comprise a new acute care hospital, community hospital and a long-term care facility. Designed to integrate with a new park, the healthcare complex will open in phases from 2022, bringing healthcare facilities closer to home, and providing better support for elderly residents to age in place.

On the eastern side of Woodlands, residents can look forward to a new Community Nexus right next to the Admiralty MRT station. Located in this Community Nexus is the integrated development, Kampung Admiralty, which is expected to be completed in 3rd quarter this year. It will house a range of facilities such as a medical centre, eldercare and childcare centres, a hawker centre, dining and retail outlets, as well as housing for the elderly. Together with existing facilities such as Admiralty Place Neighbourhood Centre and Woodlands Galaxy Community Club, the Community Nexus will serve as a one-stop hub of facilities for all ages.  

The existing park connector that runs from the east to the west of Woodlands will be transformed into a ‘Social Corridor', with lush greenery, community gardens and 3-Generation facilities along the park connector and MRT viaduct. Residents are invited to give their suggestions on how the community spaces can be used, during the exhibition.

Beyond the six star attractions, the existing neighbourhoods in Woodlands will also be enhanced. These improvements include rejuvenating the neighbourhoods, enhancing the greenery, and improving connectivity within the town.