We Review The February 2025 BTO Launch Sites (Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown, Woodlands, Yishun)

October’s BTO launch was hard to top, with so many locations and the release of the first Plus model flats. For those of you who missed your dream flat, however, February 2025 does have highlights of its own; particularly in the desirable neighbourhoods of Kallang/Whampoa and Queenstown. Here’s a look at some of the launch sites you may want to ballot for in a few months:

February 2025 BTO launches

The February 2025 launch will see around 10,000 new flats, with about 5,000 of these known to be in Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown, Woodlands, and Yishun. The Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise in February will also be unusually large, with about 5,500 flats across various towns.

(Speculatively, the larger number of unsold flats could be due to HDB having ramped up flat production by 35 per cent in the past two years)

While the full details will be known closer to the date itself, here are some of the highlights we’ve seen:

1. Kallang/Whampoa

This site is in the Tanjong Rhu area, which also saw a launch back in June 2024. Tanjong Rhu Riverfront I & II, which were launched that month are under the Prime category; so it’s reasonable to assume that February’s site will be the same. 

This site is close to the Singapore Swimming Club and The Waterside condo, with the presence of Dunman High being a major highlight. Public transport infrastructure has also improved here, with the completion of several Thomson – East Coast Line (TEL) stops. The nearby Katong Park MRT station provides quicker access to East Coast lifestyle hubs like Katong (Marine Parade MRT), and to East Coast Beach (Bayshore MRT). 

This location also provides a view of the Geylang River and the Sports Hub in the distance. The Kallang Wave Mall, attached to the Sports Hub, may also be a major amenity for those living in the area. 

An honest opinion though: while the proximity to the city makes this a hotspot, we don’t think it’s an especially exciting area. It doesn’t have the same degree of buzz and convenience as, say, Tanglin Halt Cascadia or Farrer Park Fields. We’re starting to get a sense of different degrees here, with some Prime projects being more “prime” than others. 

Nonetheless, we expect it to be in high demand because of the short drive to the city centre, and the proximity to amenities like Kallang Wave Mall or Leisure Park. Also, we understand there’s only about 800 units available here, in the usual mix of 2, 3, and 4-room flats common to Prime housing.

2. Queenstown 

This is another site that’s almost certain to fall under the Prime category since it’s in the vicinity of Mei Chin Road. This area is famed for producing million-dollar flats, and is also within walking distance of Queenstown MRT (EWL). 

This is one of the oldest and most developed HDB enclaves in Singapore, and some greenery is being added to the area too. Back in December 2023, URA made a Master Plan amendment which shows a new 1.4 hectare park close to this area. This will likely blend into the existing Alexandra-Queensway Park Connector, which reduces the dense urban feel of this location. 

Besides the well-developed heartland amenities, Anchorpoint Mall, IKEA Alexandra, and the old standby of Queensway Shopping Centre are all in the area. And of course, from the Queenstown MRT station, Tiong Bahru and Buona Vista are just two stops in either direction. We’d be surprised if this isn’t hugely oversubscribed. 

There are around 1,110 new flats planned for this area, in the form of 2, 3, and 4-room flats. Around 450 of the flats will be 2-room flats; and given the proximity to the city centre, these will probably be in high demand among singles who have jobs in the city centre. 

3. Woodlands

This will be one of the earliest projects to capitalise on the upcoming Woodlands North Coast. This will be a northernmost hub, bringing together tertiary education institutes, R&D companies, malls, and more. The intended transformation seems to mirror what happened with Paya Lebar years ago, albeit in the north instead. 

The February 2025 launch marks the start of this transforming neighbourhood, and the flats here will benefit from the greenery of spaces like Woodlands Waterfront Park. There’s also an upcoming WoodVista Gallery, a scenic community link that may be up by 2026. Woodlands has always been a spot for spaciousness and greenery, so it’s good that the Woodlands North Coast isn’t going to strip the area of that (though it will probably get busier). 

Also note that, despite the Woodlands location, we wouldn’t consider this place ulu. The site is close to Woodlands MRT station (NSL, TEL), providing good access to Causeway Point Mall. This is one of the more convenient spots in Woodlands. 

There are an expected 1,540 units here, which may cover the full range of 2,3,4, and 5-room flats. This may be a draw for those seeking first-mover advantage, and those who like the idea of the Woodlands North Coast. 

4. Yishun

We already saw a launch here in June last year, with Chencharu Hills. There are two launch sites here this time: the first is close to the previous Chencharu Hills, and the area is seeing the construction of a new park nearby. This is closer to the side of Sembawang Road and the iconic colonial-era bungalow (which we understand will be preserved and repurposed for public use). 

The project on the first site will include a supermarket and residents’ network, which would also service the previous Chencharu Hills project. We’d also expect HDB to implement the usual heartland amenities here, including coffee shops, childcare, small retail, etc. 

The second site is closer to Chencharu Link, and the Khatib MRT station (NSL). The locational advantages seem broadly similar, apart from better access to the MRT station; but we’ll know more closer to the launch itself. There’s an expected 1,510 new flats from both sites, across the 2,3,4, and 5-room spectrum.

If February’s launch seems less exciting, it’s mainly a matter of contrast with October 2024

The October BTO launch was unusually large, with a more diverse range of options; so February seems muted by comparison. But it’s a good range of locations overall, and we do think the Queenstown (Mei Chin Road) project is one of the best locations to date. 

Also, do remember that the SBF exercise will have more choices than usual; for those who don’t mind picking up balance flats, there could be better deals in February. 

Follow us on Stacked for more details close to the launch, as well as reviews of past HDB projects.