Today, we’re off to Jalan Mat Jambol and the Springwood estate to take a look at the landed houses in the area. These houses are quite close to the Chwee Chian estate, which I visited a while back, but they have the advantage of being at least 5 minutes closer to the MRT and hawker centre (depending on the exact location of the house). Which, in Singapore’s hot and humid climate can be a real boon.
The MRT in question is Pasir Panjang MRT, next to Pasir Panjang Food Centre. It’s not the largest hawker centre (it has no wet market attached) but does the trick if you’re looking for local food. (Some of the better-known stalls are the seafood, satay, and herbal mutton soup.)
Here’s the map so you have a better idea of what you’re looking at. (There’s an overhead bridge from outside Bijou condo to the MRT and hawker centre, so getting across the road is easy.)
Bijou condo is also a great addition to the neighbourhood, as there are a few eateries there, such as an Italian restaurant and bistro, if you’re looking for something nicer than the hawker centre. (Also a yoga centre if you wanted some exercise.)
The other highlight of the area is the easy access to Kent Ridge Park, via a staircase at Springwood Heights.
Here’s the staircase to Kent Ridge Park, hidden in between some terrace houses.The staircase was temporarily closed but I saw some residents coming down this path.Here’s a look at Springwood Heights – it’s a little uphill and, in my opinion, the best street in the area. Not too many houses so quite private, elevated so windier (not to mention that Jalan Mat Jambol is known for flooding), and just next to the nature reserve. See this article on how Pasir Panjang and Jalan Mat Jambol are some of the most vulnerable areas prone to flooding in Singapore – being uphill certainly helps in this situation!)Beautiful and very peaceful house! Love the landscaping.Zoomed out a bit so you can see how nicely they’ve developed the pavement.As shown, there’s quite a bit of potential to expand one’s property here.Not just upwards, but outwards towards the gate too (if one doesn’t need so much parking space.)
On the note of parking space, I was surprised to be able to easily find street parking in the area, but I did visit on a weekend (so maybe people were out?)
If not, your friends and family can always park at Bijou – there is ALWAYS space in the condo’s car park. (Paid, of course.)Anyway, back to the houses: here’s a head-on shot so you can see just how much parking space the houses here have. (Note that it differs from house to house. Generally, the houses at Springwood Heights have much more parking space than the ones at Springwood Crescent, another reason why I like this part of the estate better.)The downside is that they’re the closest properties to Kent Ridge Hill Residences condo (so I’m not sure if noise from the condo will travel over. I didn’t hear any when there, but you never know when the condo reaches full occupancy.) You can see the condo just behind the trees here.Zoomed in for a better look at the condo units (behind the car.)Another beautiful house – I do love terrace houses with trailing greenery.The road here is a bit like a T-shape: these are the houses on the other side.This side is also next to a condo (Island View) so the houses are pretty much sandwiched between 2 condos.
Island View is currently a very nice, spacious and quiet condo with very few residents – which is why it’s often on the “likely to en-bloc” list. And, indeed, an en-bloc attempt was launched in Sep 2023: according to reports, the new development would still be capped at 5 stories high. However, it could result in over 400 units, an enormous increase from the current 72! So if the en-bloc goes through, not only would the residents of the landed houses have to live through all the noise and pollution that comes with en-blocs, but the character of the neighbourhood may also be affected (you may have over 300 new cars going through the roads, resulting in a less peaceful setting.)
We’ve pretty much seen Springwood Heights, so let’s walk down to see the rest of the area.
On our way down, we pass a few more terrace houses to the left.This is what we see when we get to the main road, Jalan Mat Jambol. It leads on to South Buona Vista Road and onto the AYE.
I normally am not a fan of houses that line the main road as they tend to be more noisy and crowded. However, I’ve been to this area several times, and it’s usually very quiet.
Looking to the right here (and towards Kent Ridge Hill Residences.) Surprisingly, for a “main road”, it’s a dotted white line so you can park along this street. Some of the properties, and construction that we pass along the way.One of the new units in the area.Interesting row of houses.We then reach Jambol Place, a cul-de-sac opposite Kent Ridge Hill.As you can see, they’re mostly built in the same style here. The streets here are a lot more cluttered than Springwood Heights.Still nicely landscaped though.I’m surprised by how clear the streets are (as I would have thought those plants would shed a lot.)This is also where Jambol Place Park is located, the only playground in the Springwood-Jalan Mat Jambol area. (There’s another one at Chwee Chian but I’m considering that a different estate.)The playground is next to a canal – the canal provides a network of shortcuts through the estate.
You can cut through the playground to Springwood Avenue, instead of having to walk out to the main road.
The playground was pretty quiet, with only 1-2 residents using it (which is why I couldn’t take a photo of the entire place, to preserve their privacy.)Looks like a nice place for kids to play though.Walked out via the other end of the playground here.Note how it’s a dotted white line here (as opposed to a single white line on the previous street.)A house being rebuilt – the one at the end shows the potential for building up, but most of the houses have not yet maximised their plot ratio.Another canal shortcut here. (I think you can walk out to the main road via the other side of the Canal.)Oh, we’ve walked to the end of Springwood Avenue: Springwood Close.Here’s what the houses look like.I took the canal shortcut and walked over to Springwood Crescent. (Cars would have to drive back out of Springwood Avenue to get to Springwood Crescent: I must say the hidden canal network is a nice surprise. It makes walking around the area a lot more convenient!)I think this is the only detached house I saw on the way.This house in front is also massive – look how it dwarfs everyone all around!But the majority of the houses in this landed estate are terrace units. It’s also a little uphill here (so generally, the land slopes up towards Kent Ridge Park.)Here we are, back at the “main” road, Jalan Mat Jambol.To the right is the path you’d need to take to the MRT/hawker centre.
Anyway, there are still a few streets we didn’t see, so let’s walk back the way we came.
Another thing to point out is that I saw a few units for rent but, at the time of writing, not a single one was for sale. (There were a few at the Chwee Chian side.) Not sure if everyone just loves living here, or is waiting to cash out when the Great Southern Waterfront is more developed. What do you guys think?If you’re wondering what the parking situation in the area is like – this is the most crowded street I saw (also one of the closest to the MRT.)It basically consists of a row of houses facing the back of another row (some with back gates that open up to the street.)One of the few semi-Ds I saw in the hood.Some of the houses also have a nice position by the canal, so they look out to the canal and not someone else’s backyard. (Do note that some canals have a smell, although I didn’t smell anything when I was doing the walkabout.)
This brings me to the end of today’s tour. How did you find the area? I’m always surprised by how liveable Pasir Panjang is when I visit – I definitely think it’s not given enough credit (apart from the Great Southern Waterfront factor.) It’s quite a short drive to the city too. The only thing I’d be concerned about here is the heavy vehicles sharing Pasir Panjang Road, as it’s near a lot of factories. (Obviously only an issue if you drive!)
Let me know in the comments if there’s somewhere else you’d like a tour of!
TJ’s interest in property was sparked after returning from the UK- where balconies are not counted in one’s square footage!- and finding that the Singapore property had totally changed in the 7 years she was away. When not reading and watching articles & videos about property, she is busy cooking and baking for friends, family & her blog Greedygirlgourmet
Went to school in Pasir Panjang. Most houses had open terraces where they dried their spices, clothes n the best view of the sea. We played hide n seek at Haw Par Villa. There was a Kg behind Haw Par Villa where residents drew water from a well. My classmate, a Dr now, stayed in a hut! Would love to see the streets where our ministers stay. Is it exclusive and tucked away? R u aware that there’s a house that belonged to LKY’s parents that is still standing n of course there’s a caretaker living n the premises. Can be viewed from a double decker. The surroundings hv changed but not the house!
TJ
9 min read
Eng kong or cheng kong landed tour pls
Keep up the good works ! Rgds
Thank you!
Went to school in Pasir Panjang. Most houses had open terraces where they dried their spices, clothes n the best view of the sea. We played hide n seek at Haw Par Villa. There was a Kg behind Haw Par Villa where residents drew water from a well. My classmate, a Dr now, stayed in a hut! Would love to see the streets where our ministers stay. Is it exclusive and tucked away? R u aware that there’s a house that belonged to LKY’s parents that is still standing n of course there’s a caretaker living n the premises. Can be viewed from a double decker. The surroundings hv changed but not the house!