April 5, 2008

HOUSING

Over 1,000 private homes to be built


TARGETING YOUNG FAMILIES: View of Lakeside park. New private housing will be coming up close to the area.

PROPERTY hunters looking to buy a stake in the newly revamped Jurong Lake District will be happy that more than 1,000 private homes will be built there.

But no more new Housing Board flats are planned for Jurong, said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday.

This is also partly because the focus is on building up Sengkang and Punggol towns, said Mr Mah.

'There is sufficient public housing in Jurong so the next phase will be... on private housing,' he added.

However, if demand is strong for the private homes, more land can be re-allocated for condominiums.

That is why the sites around the MRT stations are mostly white sites, said Mr Mah.

'But all this ultimately has got to depend on the market and how it responds, whether the emphasis is more on office or housing.'

The Urban Redevelopment Authority said yesterday that the residential buildings at Jurong Gateway are likely to be 35 storeys at most, and building heights will gradually step down towards the lake to enable good views.

Colliers International's director of research and consultancy, Ms Tay Huey Ying, said it was timely for the Government to make early plans to accommodate and tap on any spillover in demand from the Central Business District.

This could occur from the office, hotel and residential sectors when mega projects, such as the two integrated resorts and Marina Bay Financial Centre, are completed and up and running, she said.