ORTO leisure park, Ground-Up Initiative in Yishun to make way for housing, Ang Mo Kio SERS residents now allowed to apply for BTO flat in same estate and more

ORTO leisure park, Ground-Up Initiative in Yishun to make way for housing, Ang Mo Kio SERS residents now allowed to apply for BTO flat in same estate and more
ORTO leisure park, Ground-Up Initiative in Yishun to make way for housing, Ang Mo Kio SERS residents now allowed to apply for BTO flat in same estate and more

2nd August to 8th August 2022

Two state land tenants in Yishun – ORTO leisure park and non-profit Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) – will have to vacate their premises by next year to make way for planned developments. Meanwhile, Ang Mo Kio residents who were affected by the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) can now apply for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat within the same estate.

 

1) ORTO leisure park, Ground-Up Initiative in Yishun to make way for housing

Source: Google Maps

Source: Google Maps

Two state land tenants in Yishun – ORTO leisure park and non-profit Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) – will have to vacate their premises by next year to make way for planned developments, reported The Straits Times.

“SLA has offered both tenants an extension up to 30 June 2023, to facilitate their transition plans,” said a Singapore Land Authority (SLA) spokesman.

The 5.15ha leisure park at 81 Lorong Chencharu occupies a 70ha site that is zoned for residential use, subject to detailed planning.

Meanwhile, a colonial-era bungalow located at 50 Bah Soon Pah Road in Yishun will be preserved as part of a new HDB residential estate.

According to Roots.gov.sg, the resource portal of the National Heritage Board (NHB), the bungalow is one of two built in 1912 by the Bukit Sembawang Rubber Company to house its manager and assistant manager.

The Straits Times also reported that the bungalow is currently undisturbed amid a flurry of activity due to earthworks at the 40ha site.

“The bungalow will not be affected by the works, and agencies are studying possible uses for the bungalow as part of the future residential estate,” said a URA spokesman.

Yishun has seen two BTO launches, Yishun Glen in Feb 2022 and Yishun Beacon in May 2022, this year. Another launch is expected during the upcoming BTO launch in November 2022. The November 2022 Yishun BTO launch exercise will be a short walk away from Lower Seletar Reservoir Park.

 

2) Ang Mo Kio SERS residents now allowed to apply for BTO flat in the same estate

Ang Mo Kio residents who were affected by the SERS can now look forward to applying for a BTO flat within the same estate, reported The Straits Times.

This comes as the upcoming BTO sales exercise for this month will see up to 10% of the flats at Central Weave @ Ang Mo Kio project set aside for priority allocation for eligible households, which includes residents affected by SERS.

In a letter to Ang Mo Kio residents, HDB explained that it allowed residents to apply for such a project since its estimated delivery possession date (DPD) is within 2029 and it is situated within Ang Mo Kio Town.

Residents can also apply for other BTO projects during the August BTO sales exercise, such as Woodlands South Plains in Woodlands, Keat Hong Grange in Choa Chu Kang and Sun Plaza Spring in Tampines, subject to the 10% priority application.

Notably, the DPD of these projects is no later than 30 March 2029.

For SERS sites announced on or after 7 April 2022, the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) for replacement flats under SERS has been adjusted. Instead of seven years from the date of selection, they will be allowed to sell their flat on the open market only after five years from the date of key collection.

Related articles: 

  • HDB BTO Aug 2022 Woodlands Review: Right Beside Woodlands South MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line
  • HDB BTO Aug 2022 Choa Chu Kang Review: Affordable, Larger Homes Close to Green Spaces
  • HDB BTO Aug 2022 Tampines Review: 10 Minutes Away from Tampines and Tampines East MRT Stations

 

3) Leong Mun Wai calls for temporary suspension of SERS

Blocks 562, 563, 564 and 565 Ang Mo Kio SERS flats

The blocks chosen for the Ang Mo Kio Housing and Development Board’s Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme are 562, 563, 564 and 565. Source: Google Maps

Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai has filed a petition in Parliament seeking to review the compensation and relocation options given to SERS residents and impose a moratorium on the scheme, reported CNA.

He filed the petition on behalf of five residents at the Ang Mo Kio SERS site.

Describing the current SERS compensation policy as “outdated”, the petition filed by the Progress Singapore Party NCMP called for “fairer” compensation and rehousing options for affected residents at Ang Mo Kio and those in future SERS projects.

They also wanted HDB to waive resale levy as well as stamp and legal fees at all future SERS exercises instead of applying them on a case-by-case basis.

“We also ask that the substantial increase in cost of living be taken into consideration,” they said, pointing to rising interest rates, significant inflation and the looming Goods and Services Tax increase in 2024.

With this, the signatories of the petition wanted a moratorium imposed on the scheme pending the findings and recommendations of the review.

HDB has followed the issues raised by the 600 affected residents closely. Aside from providing replacement flats with shorter 50-year leases, the move to reserve 10% of the flats in the upcoming August 2022 BTO launches for these residents ensure they are provided for and their concerns heard.

 

4) Additional $66mil to be allocated for studies into ageing infrastructure

The Government will allocate an additional $66 million to the Cities of Tomorrow research and development programme in the next five years, reported CNA.

Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said the additional allocation will support developing solutions that can “help upgrade” the ageing infrastructure of Singapore and create more space for the city’s needs.

“We will also develop solutions that use the latest technology, like data analytics and AI (artificial intelligence), to enable more effective urban planning that can cope with more complexity,” he said at this year’s World Cities Summit.

“Through more R&D collaborations amongst the Government, the research community and our private sector, we hope that the cross-pollination of ideas will strengthen our innovation ecosystem for our urban built environment and help our city better address our emerging challenges ahead.”

Notably, the Government has set aside $150 million for the Cities of Tomorrow programme when it was launched in 2017. The Ministry of National Development (MND) also announced an additional $110 million allocation for the programme earlier this year.

 

5) Freehold residential building at Wilkie Road up for sale for $9.2mil

Source: Google Maps

Source: Google Maps

A freehold residential building located at 62 Wilkie Road has been put up for collective sale with an indicative price of $9.2 million or $1,644 per sq ft (psf) based on a 5,597 sq ft total strata area, revealed marketing agent PropNex Realty.

The District 9 building, which comprises three duplex apartments, occupies a 2,542.4 sq ft site that is zoned for residential use under the 2019 Master Plan with a gross plot ratio of 2.1.

PropNex Realty’s Head of Investment and Collective Sales Tracy Goh noted that the building is ideal “for multi-generational families who wish to live together under one roof and procure the building for own use”.

“Alternatively, investors can also acquire the building for legacy planning and enjoy the capital appreciation over time, while leasing the apartments out for recurring rental income,” she added.

The tender for 62 Wilkie Road closes on 7 September 2022.

The property is about a 10-minute walk to Little India, Bencoolen, Dhoby Ghaut, and Rochor MRT stations. This provides residents access to the Downtown, North East, North South lines.

 

6) Condo buyers, including Singaporeans, sue Country Garden Danga Bay developer

Country-Garden-Danga-bay

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Johor developer Country Garden Danga Bay, with the buyers alleging fraud and misrepresentation, reported TODAY.

The 49 buyers – from China, Malaysia and Singapore – allege that the developer’s luxury condominium units were not delivered as advertised. The buyers claim that changes were made to their sales and purchase agreements after they had signed them.

They are seeking compensation, albeit the amount they are seeking was not clear.

Two Singaporeans who acquired units at Country Garden Danga Bay shared that several defects were seen at their apartments when they received them around 2018.

“It’s like buying a Ferrari but getting a Proton instead,” said 49-year-old businessman Adam (not his real name).

It is believed that the class action lawsuit is the biggest case to be filed against the Johor developer so far.

 

7) Transactions for strata office units down in 1H 2022

Workplaces in a modern panoramic office, Singapore city view from the windows. Open space. White tables and black leather chairs. A concept of financial consulting services. 3D rendering.

Singapore’s strata office market saw transaction volume decline 15.7% to 145 units, with a combined value of $365.1 million, in the first half of 2022, from 172 units, totalling $461.9 million, in the second half of 2021.

Knight Frank attributed the slowdown in sales activity to the dwindling saleable stock of strata offices.

“With the recent successful collective sale of a few strata commercial buildings, existing owners of other strata buildings may be holding on to their units in hopes of also embarking on the en bloc route,” said Mary Sai, Knight Frank Singapore’s Executive Director of Capital Markets.

Meanwhile, the removal of limits on gathering size and operating hours at retail establishments has spurred renewed interest in the strata retail market.

Although the 126 units that were sold in 1H 2022 were less than the 137 units shifted in 2H 2021, the total transacted value was still 8.8% higher at $290.9 million compared to 2H 2021’s $267.4 million.

 

8) CBD Grade A office rent rose 0.4% in Q2 2022

singapore-cbd-downtown-skyline

Central Business District (CBD) Grade A office rents increased 0.4% quarter-on-quarter to $9.47 per sq ft (psf) in the second quarter of 2022, revealed Savills.

This comes as net demand for such spaces surged 130.5% to 136,000 sq ft in Q2 2022 from 59,000 sq ft in Q1 2022.

Notably, the City Hall micro-market posted the biggest quarterly rental growth at 1.3% to $9.82 psf, making it the second-highest rent after the Marina Bay micro-market.

Savills noted that the tightening of supply and demand balance, along with high inflation, “is pushing landlords to raise gross rents”.

“Although there are economic challenges, with low levels of new supply, rents have been able to rise to offset inflation and future environmental-related expenditures,” said Savills Singapore’s Executive Director of Research Alan Cheong.

 

9) Ascendas Reit to buy Philips APAC Center for $104.8mil

Ascendas REIT has proposed to acquire Philips APAC Center at 622 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh from Philips Electronics Singapore for $104.8 million.

In an SGX filing, the REIT shared that the acquisition is well-aligned with its “strategic intention and will strengthen both its portfolio and customer base”.

As of 30 June 2022, the property is leased to four tenants, and “has an occupancy rate of 95.7% and a long WALE of 4.5 years”.

Upon completion of the acquisition, over two-thirds of the property’s gross floor area will be leased back to Philipps. It will serve as the firm’s APAC headquarters with a focus on its healthcare and technology business.

 

10) Ascott acquires first lyf-branded property in Tokyo

The Ascott, CapitaLand Investment Limited’s lodging business unit, is acquiring its first lyf-branded co-living property in Tokyo through its Ascott Serviced Residence Global Fund (ASRGF).

The ASRGF is the private equity fund of Ascott with Qatar Investment Authority.

To be named lyf Ginza Tokyo, the 140-unit co-living property is set to open in June next year. It is ASRGF’s fourth acquisition this year, deploying almost $400 million across four countries in less than five months.

With the acquisition of the Tokyo property, ASRGF will have 12 properties with more than 2,300 units across 91 countries.

“With the addition of lyf Ginza Tokyo, we are close to the full deployment of ASRGF. We seek to establish more lodging funds and attract like-minded capital partners to tap on Ascott’s established investment and operational expertise to grow,” said Mak Hoe Kit, Managing Director for Lodging Private Equity Funds and Head of Business Development at Ascott.

 

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Cheryl Chiew, Digital Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this story, email: cheryl@propertyguru.com.sg.

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