The first housing sites in Turf City are being prepared for construction

The Swiss Club Road Good Class Bungalow Area is near the two pieces of property on Dunearn Road in Bukit Timah.

October 18, 2024

CONDOsingapore.com



According to a Friday (October 18) update on the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) website, Turf City's first housing estate is being prepared for construction.

The two property lots are next to the Swiss Club Road Good-Class Bungalow Area and will be bordered by Dunearn Road.

"The proposed amendments aim to support the short-term demand for housing in central locations by launching the development of Bukit Timah Turf City, beginning with areas closer to existing transport nodes along Dunearn Road, such as the Downtown Line's Sixth Avenue MRT station," URA said.

Between Swiss Club Road and the next home development, a new park will be constructed. It will "make new facilities and recreational areas easily accessible to current and future residents."

One of Turf City's four unique communities, Stables Commune, is anticipated to include the two property lots. Tinggi Hills, Saddle Club Knolls, and Racecourse are the others.

According to URA, after designs are completed, rezoning proposals will be made for the other portions of Bukit Timah Turf City.

A rezoning from "residential (subject to detailed planning)" to "residential with commercial use on the first storey" is being proposed for one of the Turf City sites. The site will support low-rise housing if the gross plot ratio is 1.6.

According to CONDOsingapore's checks, the area now includes Bukit Timah Field, the open space at the intersection of Swiss Club Road and Dunearn Road.



With a greater gross plot ratio of 2.4, a smaller land parcel next to it is being planned for residential development.

When the apartments will be introduced and if the first two locations will be set aside for public housing or whether developers will be able to purchase them for private residential developments are unknown.

Regarding whether the first projects will be individual homes or public buildings, market observers have differing opinions.

"This site (faces) Dunearn Road and is conveniently located within walking distance of the Sixth Avenue MRT station, so it is more suitable for public housing," said Eugene Lim, ERA's chief executive officer.

According to Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at real estate company OrangeTee Group, the location with the lower plot ratio could be more appropriate for private residences since a gross plot ratio of 1.6 might indicate a maximum of 12 stories.

The Turf City site is expected to house between 15,000 and 20,000 dwellings, including the first public housing complexes in Bukit Timah to be built in 40 years. Over the course of 20 to 30 years, Turf City will undergo a phased renovation.

When he presented plans for Turf City in May, Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said that the government wants the region to be a “inclusive and highly accessible estate”. "This is in response to Singaporeans' increasing desire to live in the city near their places of employment," he said.

Before the Singapore Turf Club relocated to Kranji to relieve traffic in the vicinity, Turf City was a well-liked horse racing site from 1933 to 1999.

Until the end of 2023, the site's area was leased to businesses such as daycare centres, auto dealers, restaurants, and sports facilities.

URA also revealed on Friday that a reserve site with a gross plot ratio of 2.5 on Amber Road on the East Coast is being considered for residential development. Situated next to Tanjong Katong MRT station, the 28,966.2 sq m plot may provide views of the sea.

In Little India, an 11,212.7 square metre plot of land is being considered for residential development. The Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society now occupies the location. The land lot is bounded by Dorset Road and is encircled by shophouses and low-rise apartments like Suites@Owen and Loft@Rangoon.

In addition to enabling future inhabitants to take use of the site's close proximity to the Farrer Park MRT station and other local facilities, the proposed revisions are intended to assist future residential constructions that would meet the area's housing need, according to URA.