New Bidadari homes to sit amid lush gardens

THE first Housing Board (HDB) projects in Bidadari, which will be launched this month, will feature lush greenery and social spaces, in line with the area's vision of being "a community in a garden".

Residents of the 2,139 flats in the area will be able to visit a nearby market square and walk around a scenic park and lake.

A highlight of the estate is the 10ha Bidadari Park housing the new Alkaff Lake, named after the Southern Arab family which opened the former Alkaff Lake Garden in the area in 1929.

There will also be a market square that includes a food court and bus interchange.

The first three projects - Alkaff CourtView, Alkaff LakeView and Alkaff Vista - will be completed between 2019 and 2020.

They will feature thoroughfares flanked by social and commercial facilities, roof gardens, elevated walkways and landscaped lift lobbies that extend out of the block facades for scenic views.

Alkaff CourtView will also have garden courtyards and a veranda for community activities.

Bidadari's green nature extends to its "car-light" planning.

Said HDB's director of urban planning Lim Shu Ying: "Residents can cycle safely and conveniently within the estate. We hope to encourage residents to use walking and cycling as alternative modes of transport rather than taking a car."

A 1.8km park connector, for instance, will provide a direct cycling route from Punggol to Kallang through the estate.

Car and bicycle sharing systems, including special parking spaces, will also be provided.

Spanning 93ha, approximately the size of 150 football fields, Bidadari is bounded by Bartley Road, Sennett Estate, Upper Serangoon Road and Mount Vernon Road.

The area will be eventually carved into four districts - the Alkaff District is the largest.

Despite formerly housing a cemetery, Bidadari's central location makes it one of the most anticipated sites in this month's bumper Build-To-Order (BTO) flat launch. A total of 7,000 BTO flats in Bidadari, Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Punggol and Sengkang will be available. Another 5,000 balance units not sold in previous exercise will also be put up for sale.

Prices will only be revealed when these flats are launched, but some property experts expect a premium due to the area's city-fringe location and nearby amenities.

The projects are within a five to 10 minute walk from Woodleigh and Potong Pasir MRT stations, and close to Cedar Primary School and Cedar Girls' Secondary School.

PropNex Realty chief executive Mohamed Ismail Gafoor said the new flats might cost at least a fifth more than those in Sengkang or Punggol.

In the May BTO launch, prices for four-room flats in Punggol ranged from $284,000 to $350,000.

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

janiceh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Nov 16, 2015.
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