What should you know about the upcoming October BTO before balloting?

The October 2025 Build-to-Order (BTO) launch is shaping up to be one of the most significant of the year. You’ll find projects in both mature estates like Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Bukit Merah, and Toa Payoh, as well as in non-mature towns such as Jurong East, Sengkang, and Yishun. But before you jump into balloting, it’s worth looking closely at what makes this launch different from others.

Biggest BTO launch of the year

This October exercise will be the largest in 2025, with about 9,060 flats released across 10 projects in 8 towns. To give you some perspective, that’s nearly double the 5,032 units made available in February. With so many options, you’ll likely find a wider mix of flat types and locations to consider.

Over 2,800 Shorter Waiting Time flats

Another key highlight is the inclusion of more than 2,800 Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) flats. If you prefer moving in sooner rather than later, these flats could be a great fit. Unlike the typical 4 to 5 years, you’ll be able to collect your keys within 3 years, making them an appealing option for those who don’t want to wait too long. 

However, it’s not yet clear which specific projects will carry these SWT flats, so you’ll need to keep an eye out for further announcements.

First BTO in the Greater Southern Waterfront (GSW)

Bukit Merah will see two launches this round, contributing nearly 1,900 flats. Among them, Berlayar estate stands out as the first-ever BTO project in the Greater Southern Waterfront. Located on the former Keppel Club site, this development offers city-fringe living just minutes from the CBD.

Berlayar Residences will feature 870 units across 19 to 46 storey towers, with most homes located within a 10-minute walk of both Labrador Park and Telok Blangah MRT stations. The estate is being planned as car-lite, so you can look forward to walking and cycling paths that link you to nearby amenities and transport nodes.

Instead of being surrounded by shopping malls, you’ll enjoy easy access to greenery such as Labrador Nature Reserve, Henderson Waves, Mount Faber, and the Southern Ridges. Within the 48-hectare site, about 10 hectares will be reserved for parks and open spaces, ensuring nature stays at the heart of the community.

On top of that, the estate will bring everyday essentials right to your doorstep. You’ll find preschools, supermarkets, eateries, shops, and clinics within the estate, while a new market and food centre at Telok Blangah is set to open by 2027.

First BTO in Mount Pleasant estate

Mount Pleasant Crest will also be a milestone launch, marking the first BTO in the brand-new Mount Pleasant estate. Here, you’ll see about 1,350 units across 2-room Flexi, 3-room, and 4-room flats, plus an additional 270 rental flats.

This project is set on the grounds of the former Old Police Academy, with heritage carefully woven into the design. Conserved landmarks like the former parade square and six historical buildings, including a heritage gallery and the senior police officers’ mess, will be integrated into the estate.

Planned as a green and car-lite neighbourhood, the project features north-south facing blocks for better airflow, wide footpaths, cycling paths, and transit-priority corridors. Amenities will be well-rounded too, with a pre-school, supermarket, eating house, six shops, and a Residents’ Network Centre all on site.

Second batch of “White flats”

Mount Pleasant Crest will also introduce the second batch of “white flats.” These units come with open layouts free of fixed partitions and beams, giving you flexibility to design your interiors as you wish. At Crawford Heights last year, about 40% of buyers chose this option, showing strong interest in this flexible concept.

For young couples or families with small children, the open space can double up as a play area. Later on, you’ll also have the freedom to reconfigure the layout as your needs evolve.

Largest supply of 2-room flexi flats since 2015

If you’re a single buyer or a senior, this launch brings good news. You’ll see a massive 2,890 2-room flexi flats – the largest supply in 10 years. Mount Pleasant Crest alone contributes 540 of them, making it the biggest single source in this exercise.

There’s also talk about potential changes in singles’ eligibility and income ceilings, though nothing official has been announced yet. If these adjustments go through, they could make 2-room flexi flats even more accessible to a wider group of buyers.

First Community Care Apartments of the year

Finally, Sengkang will offer something unique with 1,030 units, including 200 Community Care Apartments (CCAs). These flats are specially designed for seniors, with layouts that support ageing-in-place and optional care services available. This October launch will mark the fifth batch of CCAs and the first for 2025, giving seniors more housing choices.

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