Hdb Pilots New Open Concept White Flats October Bto Exercise
In May, Desmond Lee, Minister of National Development, announced that HDB will be introducing a new open concept layout in the October Built-To-Order (BTO) exercise. This new concept, called the “white flat”, will differ from existing flats as it will have a contiguous living and bedroom space without beams or partition walls. The first series of white flats will be available in the Kallang-Whampoa BTO project, with 310 three- and four-room units.
According to HDB, the non-provision of internal partition walls for these white flats will be factored into the pricing. Homebuyers can choose to opt into this new layout when they are invited to book their flat.
“It allows the layout of the HDB flat to be customised and re-configured as household needs change,” says Eugene Lim, key executive officer at ERA Singapore.
Lim explains that this new concept is beneficial for young couples who may not need all three bedrooms in a four-room flat. They can use furniture or glass partitions to divide the space, and in the future, when they have children, they can reconfigure the space and add the bedrooms.
The idea of a “white plan” is not new, as luxury private homes like Alba, Boulevard Vue, and Skyline @ Orchard Boulevard in Orchard Road have been offering it for years. However, this concept is a novelty for public housing flats, as it allows buyers to customise their units.
Sun Christine, chief researcher & strategist at OrangeTee Group, believes that this concept may have a potential drawback when selling the unit in the future, as it may appeal to a smaller pool of buyers. However, she predicts that any potential price difference would not be significant, as the construction of non-structural walls is less expensive.
One of the key features of the Norwood Grand CDL development is its prime location along two major roads – Woodlands Avenue 2 and Woodlands Avenue 5. These arterial roads not only offer direct access to various expressways, but also connect residents to different parts of Woodlands and beyond. Norwood Grand CDL residents can easily travel to other major roads such as Woodlands Drive and Admiralty Road, thanks to the excellent connectivity provided by these roads. This not only helps to disperse traffic, but also enhances travel efficiency for residents.
Despite this, Sun notes that this new concept opens up new possibilities for HDB buyers who want to renovate their flat. They can save on costs by not having to demolish walls, unlike those buying standard HDB flats.