Note: This article was written before the locations of the August 2023 BTO sites were announced. For updated information on the released site locations, in-depth review of the Aug 2023 BTO launches will be published after HDB releases more information on it.
When HDB launched the recent February 2023 BTO exercise, they unveiled the exact sites for the May 2023 BTO launch (i.e. Bedok, Kallang/Whampoa, Serangoon, Tengah BTO site 1, and Tengah BTO site 2) too. However, some of us were more excited because of another reason: HDB’s hints at the upcoming August 2023 BTO sites.
The upcoming Aug 2023 BTO exercise will see about 5,200 to 6,200 units of BTO flats launched across five estates: Bukit Merah, Choa Chu Kang, Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown, and Tengah. Which of these BTO sites do you think will be launched under the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) model? Read on for our predictions.
By the way, from the upcoming August 2023 BTO launch on, first-timer BTO applicants who receive a BTO ballot but do not select a flat will be considered second-timers for a year. Applicants who still don’t choose a flat on their second BTO application won’t be able to apply for a BTO flat at all for a year.
Upcoming Aug 2023 BTO Exercise
| Locations of the upcoming Aug 2023 BTO projects | BTO flat types |
| Bukit Merah | 2-room Flexi, 3-room, and 4-room flats |
| Choa Chu Kang | 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room, and 3Gen flats |
| Kallang/Whampoa | 2-room Flexi, 3-room, and 4-room flats |
| Queenstown | 3-room and 4-room flats |
| Tengah | 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room flats |
| Total number of BTO flats | About 5,200 to 6,200 |
By the way, HDB’s announcement of the upcoming August 2023 BTO projects is preliminary. The estates are subject to change, and the number of units subject to review. More details will be announced alongside the May 2023 BTO launch.
So at the time of writing (16 March 2023), we can only guess potential sites for the upcoming Aug 2023 BTO launch. We used the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Masterplan and Google Maps to help!
Want to check how accurate our BTO guesses have been? Read our previous articles on recent BTO exercises:
- HDB BTO Feb 2022: The 3 Announced Estates and Where We Hope They Will Be
- HDB BTO May 2022: The 5 Announced Estates and Where We Hope the BTOs Will Be
- HDB BTO August 2022: The 6 Announced Estates and Where We Hope the BTOs Will Be
- HDB BTO November 2022: The 4 Announced Estates and Where We Hope the BTOs Will Be
- HDB BTO February 2023: The 3 Announced Estates and Where We Hope the BTOs Will Be
Bukit Merah (2-room Flexi, 3-room, and 4-room Flats)
The last BTO launches in Bukit Merah happened in August 2022 (Alexandra Vale and Havelock Hillside) and in May 2022 (Bukit Merah Ridge). All sites were launched under the PLH model.
Before the PLH model was introduced, there was also a small Bukit Merah BTO launch in May 2021 (Telok Blangah Beacon) with just 175 BTO flats. Even earlier batches of Bukit Merah BTO launches took place way back in 2013, 2012, and 2007.
This plot in the middle of Bukit Purmei is allegedly the final resting place of Johor kings. It’s marked on maps as Keramat Bukit Kasita and hasn’t been claimed for conservation.
Just because it is a plot where ancient tombs are built doesn’t mean it won’t be touched – especially if the government sees reason to. Remember in August 2013, the graves at Bukit Brown cemetery were exhumed after the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced it would be redeveloped into a highway?
Furthermore, the plot is designated as a Reserve and Residential site on URA Space. It has a gross plot ratio of 2.8 and allows for HDB flats up to 36 storeys tall to be built on it. It’s possible that the tombs within the cemetery could be preserved if one or two HDB blocks were built on an ‘untouched’ part of the land; a small BTO launch in Bukit Merah wouldn’t be surprising, given how dense the mature estate already is.
Within Bukit Merah, we’re also looking at this plot bounded by Spooner Road. Currently, there seems to be nearby construction for the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Phase 2, slated for completion in 2025.
So if not for the upcoming August 2023 BTO launch, it’s possible that this plot may be considered for a future BTO project: it’s super close to the Rail Corridor and other amenities. On URA Space, the categories for this plotare Residential, Commercial, Park, and Road.
When we visit friends who stay in Telok Blangah, we frequently pass this expanse of land. When we looked it up on Maps, we discovered it was home to the Telok Blangah Archery Club. While it’s quite a large plot with a forest behind it, it’s not marked in green (i.e. Park), but in yellow (i.e. Reserve) on URA Space, which means it could become a site for BTO projects in the near future.
Bukit Merah is quite a diverse estate. Some areas are very ‘old-school’ and quaint, with tons of amenities. Other newer areas are currently more inaccessible. However, as a whole, it is close to Sentosa, with plenty of green spaces to explore. It is also within the Greater Southern Waterfront. Furthermore, the Circle Line (CCL) loop, which cuts through the estate, will be closed by 2026 when HarbourFront MRT station finally links three stops to Marina Bay MRT station.
Browse all HDB resale flats in Bukit Merah for sale on PropertyGuru.
Choa Chu Kang (2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room, and 3Gen Flats)
We feel the upcoming Chua Chu Kang August 2023 BTO launch could be a big one, as it will feature the full suite of HDB flat types. Recent BTO launches in Choa Chu Kang took place in August 2022 (Keat Hong Grange), November 2021 (Heart of Yew Tee), and August 2020 (Keat Hong Verge).
Near recent BTO projects Keat Hong Grange and Keat Hong Verge, bounded by Choa Chu Kang Grove and Choa Chu Kang Avenue 7, is a sizeable plot marked Residential on URA Space. To its right on the map, the plot marked red is designated as a Civic & Community Institution, highly likely to accommodate the families who are going to live there.
Might this BTO project be named Keat Hong… Grove? Stay tuned for our upcoming August 2023 BTO launch reviews!
Browse all HDB resale flats in Choa Chu Kang for sale on PropertyGuru.
Kallang/Whampoa (2-room Flexi, 3-room, and 4-room Flats)
Will there be multiple BTO sites in this upcoming Kallang/Whampoa August 2023 BTO launch, similar to the February 2023 Kallang/Whampoa BTO launch? Might one of them be launched under the PLH model?
Within Kallang/Whampoa is a plot bounded by the Kallang River and Jalan Tenteram. It’s marked Residential in URA Space, which means it’s either going to be dedicated to a more extensive BTO project or two smaller ones, subject to detailed evaluation and planning. Here’s our guess for the non-PLH ‘part’ of Kallang/Whampoa.
Moving to the possible PLH ‘part’ of Kallang/Whampoa, there’s an empty plot that currently houses the Piccadilly Grand show flat. It’s designated as Residential on URA Space, so it’s possible that when the condo show flat ends its run, the BTO project may take over.
It’s an excellent location, close to Pek Kio community centre, Farrer Park MRT station, and a walking distance from amenities, including the F&B stretch along Owen Road, Pek Kio market, Farrer Park Hospital, City Square Mall, and more.
Browse all HDB resale flats in Kallang/Whampoa for sale on PropertyGuru.
Queenstown (3-room and 4-room Flats)
Here are recent Queenstown BTO launches:
- Ulu Pandan Glades (PLH) in February 2023
- Ghim Moh Natura (PLH), Queensway Canopy, and Ulu Pandan Banks (PLH) in November 2022
- Ghim Moh Ascent (PLH) in May 2022
- Queen’s Arc in August 2021
The west side of Dover Forest will be retained in the medium term (i.e. untouched till 2031), but the plot is still marked Residential on URA Space with commercial space at its first storey. In the meantime, the two plots on the east side have been launched as BTO projects: Ulu Pandan Glades (PLH) and Ulu Pandan Banks (PLH).
What’s launching in August 2023 could be bounded by Dover MRT station and Ulu Pandan Canal. There are also proposed medical facilities, and choice schools like School of Science and Technology (SST), Singapore Polytechnic (SP), and the National University of Singapore (NUS) are nearby.
And yes, following the two Queenstown BTO launches near Dover Forest, this BTO site will highly likely fall under the PLH model.
Browse all HDB resale flats in Queenstown for sale on PropertyGuru.
Tengah (2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room Flats)
In the Tengah BTO February 2022, November 2022, and May 2023 launches, the plots along the Pan Island Expressway (PIE) and Tengah Garden Avenue were released/announced. Also, along with the news that Anglo-Chinese School (ACS) (Primary) will move to Tengah in 2030, a plot nearby the new school and an upcoming bus interchange in Tengah was announced in May 2023.
Our main gripe is that the URA Space map isn’t automatically updated when the launches are out (we could only see up to Park Flora, a Tengah February 2022 BTO launch, but not Plantation Creek, another BTO site what was part of the same launch).
Nevertheless, we deduced that the next plots within Tengah to be developed as BTO sites could also be around the same area, bounded by Tengah Central, Tengah Garden Walk, and Tengah Park Avenue. If not this smaller plot, then the larger one above it could likely be a bigger development with 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room BTO HDB flats.
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