Three Exciting New Launches To Come In The Canberra Area

Three exciting new launches to come in the Canberra area
By PropNex Research

Two upcoming private residential projects and a new Executive Condominium (EC) development look set to inject a total of about 1,000 new homes to the Canberra estate in Sembawang – a lively town that is expected to flourish further in the years ahead. The three new launches are within walking distance to the Canberra MRT station, which will bring all the conveniences to residents.

Provence Residence EC (Canberra Link)

The scarcity of land sites released for ECs coupled with a typically healthy demand for this private-public housing hybrid should strengthen the attractiveness of Provence Residence EC, which could offer 413 new units. MCC Land (Singapore) beat seven other bidders to the site, with a top tender price of $ 233.89 million, which works out to $566.1 psf per plot ratio (ppr).

Canberra Drive Parcel A, The Commodore & Parcel B, The Watergardens At Canberra

Both plots in Canberra Drive were offered for sale under the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme in November 2019. Parcel A (The Commodore) was awarded to Oasis Development Pte. Ltd, with a land bid price of $129.2 million or $644 psf ppr. Meanwhile, Parcel B (The Watergardens at Canberra) with a bigger land size was awarded to United Venture Development (2020) Pte. Ltd for $270.2 million, translating to $650 psf ppr.

Healthy demand expected, and here’s why
Given the limited number of new launches in the OCR, these three 99-year leasehold projects in Canberra should attract prospective buyers’ attention. There is a host of other reasons why these they might catch buyers’ fancy, a key one being its close proximity to the Canberra MRT station on the North South Line.

Accessibility: Move with ease
The three upcoming projects will be well-served by public transport. The opening of the Canberra MRT station in 2019 has shaved commuting times for residents, providing a direct connection to retail and employment centres in Orchard Road, City Hall, and Raffles Place, as well as mature towns such as Bishan and Ang Mo Kio. In addition, they also enjoy easy access to main roads, including Sembawang Road, Yishun Avenue 2, and the Seletar Expressway.

Furthermore, future residents will also be able to look forward to the 21.5-km long North-South Corridor (NSC). It has been dubbed the longest Transit Priority Corridor that will transform the way people travel between the Northern Region and the City. The long corridor will integrate various travel modes such as dedicated bus lanes, cycling routes, and pedestrian paths. The expressway is expected to be completed by 2026, and should further improve connectivity in the area.

Families with school-going children or couples planning to have kids in the future will be glad to know that the development is near to many schools. Some of the nearby schools and institutions include Sembawang Primary School, Sembawang Secondary School, Wellington Primary School, Canberra Primary School, and Endeavour Primary Schools.

Adding a touch of lifestyle to suburban living
The land parcels are conveniently accessible to a number of malls such as Canberra Plaza, Sembawang Shopping Centre, Sun Plaza, and North Point City. These malls offer a wide range of dining, shopping, entertainment and leisure options. Some of the dining choices include Astons Specialities, Burger King, A&W, Killiney Kopitiam, KFC, McDonald’s, and Saizeriya. There are also supermarkets Giant Hypermarket and NTUC Fairprice to meet daily necessities needs.

For a more diverse shopping experience, residents can head to a number of retail nodes that are a short MRT train ride away - from Ang Mo Kio Hub to Junction 8 in Bishan, Square 2 and Velocity @ Novena, and the shopping mecca Orchard Road.

Good news for food lovers too. Canberra Link and Canberra Drive are near many great places to eat. Whet your appetite with a selection of eateries around Jalan Tampang, such as Sembawang Traditional Claypot Rice, Xing Hua Delights, and Baker’s Brew @ Sembawang. The three new projects are also a stone’s throw from the Chong Pang City Wet Market & Food Centre, which is home to affordable and popular eats like Wan Xing Nasi Lemak, Chuan Kee Boneless Braised Duck, and many more stalls.

A big dose of recreation
Based on the 2019 URA master plan, an upcoming sports and community hub development called “Bukit Canberra” will be built to allow residents to have easier access to various amenities and facilities. Some of the features include a polyclinic, senior care centre, hawker centre, swimming pools, and an indoor sports hall. Bukit Canberra, a one-stop destination for sporting, wellness, and lifestyle needs, will meet the evolving demands of residents in the area.

The three project sites are also a brief journey from well-loved attractions in Mandai: Singapore Zoo; River Safari; and Night Safari. And soon, these attractions will be joined by the new Bird Park, which is being relocated to Mandai from Jurong as part of the new eco-tourism hub in the north of Singapore.

Cycling enthusiasts can also ride along the Canberra Sembawang Park Connector. The 1.6-kilometre route starts from Canberra Link and joins Sembawang Park, where cyclists can take a break and enjoy the view of the Johor Straits. Alternatively, residents can head to Sembawang Hot Spring Park to enjoy a foot soak in the warm cascading pool or take a stroll along the Floral Walk and explore the history of the hot spring park.

Leveraging on Woodlands and Yishun

Canberra estate - located near Yishun and Woodlands - can potentially benefit from the ongoing transformation in the two towns. For instance, the Northpoint City integrated development in Yishun, which is merely one stop from the Canberra MRT station offers a vibrant lifestyle, recreation and transport hub.

Woodlands, meanwhile, is envisioned as the largest economic hub in the North region – which will provide new job opportunities, amenities and improved connectivity such as via transport hubs at Woodlands Central and Woodlands North Coast. In addition, the completion of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link connecting the Bukit Chagar Station in Johor Bahru with the Woodlands North Station sometime in end-2026 will enable a more seamless journey to JB.

For comprehensive and quality healthcare needs, residents can look forward to the Woodlands Health Campus, which is expected to open progressively from 2023. It will comprise various facilities including a fully integrated acute and community hospital, specialist outpatient clinics, and long-term care facilities.

About the developers

MCC Land (Singapore) has vast experience in building private residential and EC developments here. Their completed projects include The Alps Residences, The Santorini, Forestville, NorthWave, Canberra Residences, Sea Horizon and many more.

United Venture Development (2020) Pte. Ltd is a joint venture between UOL Group unit UOL Venture Investments Pte. Ltd., United Industrial unit UIC Homes Pte. Ltd. and Kheng Leong. Some of the projects developed by these developers include but not limited to Principal Garden, 18 Nassim Hill, The Topiary, The Woods, Nassim Park Residences, Clavon, Avenue South Residence and The Tre Ver.

Oasis Development, is controlled by boutique developer JBE Holdings Group. Some of its notable projects include Signature at Yishun, The Luxe, The Oasis of the North, SkyPark Residences and Luxe Ville.