If you are able to pull out some pre-COVID memories from August 2019, you might be able to remember listening to PM Lee’s National Day Rally speech. But if you are like most Singaporeans, you’d likely have forgotten a large part of what was said in his address. That said, however, we can all agree that the announcement of the Greater Southern Waterfront development was the highlight of PM Lee’s 2019 National Day Rally speech.
Does “Greater Southern Waterfront” sound familiar to you? Or does it sound like three random words strung together to form an attas sounding project? Either way, we’re here to share with you everything you’d want to know about Great Southern Waterfront Singapore. In this article, we’ll explore three whats of the Greater Southern Waterfront: What is it? What changes? And What opportunities?
What exactly is the Greater Southern Waterfront?
First announced in 2013, the Greater Southern Waterfront comprises 30km of coastline extending from Pasir Panjang to Marina East. For those who need a bit more help to visualize what this entails, Greater Southern Waterfront comprises these areas:
Gardens by the Bay East
Cruise Hub & Coastal Park at Marina South/Straits View
Keppel & Tanjong Pagar Terminals
Mount Faber – Harbourfront
Keppel – Labrador
Pasir Panjang Power District
Pasir Panjang Terminal
Pulau Brani
Sentosa
Six times the size of Marina Bay and double the size of Punggol town, the massive 2000ha land will be transformed into a new major gateway and location for urban living along Singapore’s southern coast.
What are the changes that will be brought about?
The Greater Southern Waterfront fully capitalizes on Singapore’s southern coastline. In doing so, it presents a whole host of opportunities to improve how we live, work, and play. Just like how the Marina Bay area took decades to form, the Greater Southern Waterfront will be built in phases to reflect these changes:
1. More office spaces
The popular Central Business District (CBD) in Singapore will have to make way for the Greater Southern Waterfront to shine. Big names like Google, Cisco and Unilever have already found homes in the Greater Southern Waterfront. But even more spaces will be developed in the area to accommodate offices in the future.
2. New MRT stations
The Greater Southern Waterfront is not exactly accessible by MRT at the present time. By 2023, however, you’d be able to easily access the area thanks to the Thomson East Coast Line. In 2025, three new Circle Line MRT stations will find themselves right in the middle of the Greater Southern Waterfront to offer even greater accessibility. The new MRT stations would also finally make the Circle Line form a real circle—a piece of great news that many Singaporeans would be happy to hear.
3. 9000 new homes
Keppel Club, a 44ha plot of land which currently houses a golf course and club facilities, will be redeveloped for housing when its lease expires in December 2021.
On this massive piece of land, approximately 9,000 housing units will be developed, including private residences and BTO flats. If this sounds familiar to you, that’s because this sounds very much like what happened with Pinnacle@Duxton, the Tanjong Pagar HDB flats that were launched in 2004. Facing overwhelming interest, some units were sold at over $600,000. Today, one can easily sell a unit at the flat off at over $1,000,000.
With its attractive location, picturesque views, convenience accorded by its proximity to nearby business parks, shopping malls, and MRT stations, the announcement that the Greater Southern Waterfront would see the development of new homes garnered a lot of interest, to say the least.
9000 new homes?! What opportunities does the Greater Southern Waterfront bring for homebuyers?
Yes, 9000 new homes wasn’t a typo error on our part! To be clear, when the announcement was made that the Greater Southern Waterfront would see the development of new homes, queues did not only form for the BTO HDB flats that were projected to develop in the area.
Completed projects in the Greater Southern Waterfront as well as properties near the area all drew massive interest and attracted buyers from all around the island. In the next section, we’ll take a look at 5 of these hot properties.
1. Sky Everton
Image Credit: Sustained Land
On its first weekend launch, Sky Everton sold 40% of its units, or 102 of the total 262 units. Slated for completion in 2023, the project will have a single 36-storey residential tower with a North-South orientation and unblocked views of the picturesque environment around you.
Located on 42 Everton Road in District 02, this freehold condominium features a Garden Oasis (Level 1), the Piazza (Level 5), Sky Forest (Level 14) and the Sky Club (Level 24) which offers a grand and panoramic view of the waterfront beyond Tanjong Pagar Port Area and the beautiful skyline.
Boasting a convenient location, Sky Everton sits close to Marina Bay and Tanjong Pagar, Chinatown MRT and also the Outram MRT stations. For those who drive, the CBD, Clarke Quay, Marina Bay, Harbourfront and Orchard Road are just a few minutes away.
You’d also never have to worry about going hungry here, as Maxwell Road Food Centre, Lau Pa Sat, Outram Park Ya Hua Rou Gu Cha and Duxton Hill are just nearby. If you prefer to have your meal at a shopping centre, you’d be spoilt for choice having to pick from the myriad of shopping malls in Sky Everton’s proximity.
The 23-story building has a variety of unit styles that are suitable for individuals, couples, small families or large families. One- to six-bedroom units are available and range in size from 463 to 2,228 square feet.
2. The Reef at King’s Dock
Image Credit: Keppel Land
Located in the Keppel Bay precinct, The Reef at King’s Dock comprises 429 one- to three- bedroom units in total. The project was overwhelmingly received, having sold a whopping 90% of the 300 units offered over its launch weekend.
This high-end development combines decadent living with the luxury of being on the water. It provides a one-of-a-kind living experience that few other condominium projects can match. As Singapore’s first condo with a floating deck, The Reef is well-equipped with tennis courts, a gym, outdoor exercise areas, leisure pools, jacuzzis, and the highly anticipated Marine Viewing Hammock that allows residents to take in the jaw-dropping views.
Residents will appreciate the tranquility of nature while still being near everyday necessities like parks, schools, and shopping malls. Furthermore, since the condo is close to the CBD, you can save time traveling to the city center.
Foodies will also love that Bukit Merah Market And Food Centre, Jalan Bukit Merah Food Centre & Market, and Telok Blangah Crescent Block 11 Market And Food Centre are all a stone’s throw away from The Reef at King’s Dock.
3. Avenue South Residences
Image Credit: UOL Group Limited
On the first day of launch, UOL Group sold 276 out of 300 units released at Avenue South Residence. Occupying a large 245,972 square feet of land, Avenue South Residences will feature two iconic high rise towers of 56-storeys overlooking the CBD and the upcoming Greater Southern Waterfront.
Avenue South Residences comprises one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units ranging from 474 square feet to 1,668 square feet. The development will also offer close to 10,000 square feet of commercial facilities, including food and beverage outlets and a childcare centre, which is great news for young parents out there.
The blocks are strategically placed in a North-South Orientation to maximize airflow and ventilation, and provide unobstructed views into landscaped gardens, the city and the sea.
In terms of connectivity, this project is close to Cantonment and Keppel MRT stations, two new MRT stations that are slated to open by 2025. It is also near Tiong Bahru MRT station. You would take approximately 10 minutes to reach Raffles Place by car and 6 minutes to reach the CBD and Orchard Road. There are also plenty of bus stops close to the residence.
4. Whistler Grand
Image Credit: City Developments Limited
Located near the West Coast at Clementi, Whistler Grand overlooks Pandan Reservoir, one of Singapore’s largest service reservoirs and a popular fishing spot and jogging trail. Because of its close proximity to campuses such as Singapore Polytechnic and the National University of Singapore (NUS) and business centres like the international business district, this project is ideal for business professionals, students, and other residents studying or working in the neighbourhood.
After working hard, treat yourself to the food from nearby cafes and eateries or set foot in world-class, resort-like facilities at Whistler Grand. Think amenities like swimming pools, a spa lagoon, gymnasium, community gardens, tennis courts, botanical patio, nightclub, and sky lounge.
The project is an 8-minute drive away from Clementi MRT Station. Multiple bus stops are also in the area to connect you to the MRT Station. It is also conveniently situated close to Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) and West Coast Highway. With such attractive selling points, it is no wonder the project’s 160 out of 240 units released were sold on its launch weekend.
5. Kent Ridge Hill Residences
Image Credit: Oxley Holdings Limited
Kent Ridge Hill Residences is a residential neighbourhood on Singapore’s West Coast that is famous for its quiet and laid-back atmosphere away from the city. The residence is adjacent to many international schools including the National University of Singapore.
The 99 year leasehold condominium project will consist of eleven blocks of low-rise 5-storey condominium blocks with around 480 condominium units
With shopping malls, cafes, and restaurants nearby, you never have to travel far to get what you need. Kent Ridge Hill Residences also has a variety of amenities, such as a swimming pool and pool deck, a tennis court, a BBQ area, function rooms, and a fitness center.
Located just off the West Coast Highway, drivers have great access to the rest of the city. If you don’t drive, the project is located a 10 minute walk away from Pasir Panjang MRT station and multiple bus stops can be found along South Buona Vista road and Pasir Panjang Road.
The bottom-line
With amazing projects attracting homebuyers, new office spaces attracting big brands, and new MRT lines for greater accessibility, there is so much in store for the up and coming district of the Greater Southern Waterfront!
While so much of it remains uncertain, we do know for sure to take PM Lee’s words to heart that at Greater Southern Waterfront, “People can work near where they live, and live near where they work. This will create life and activity during the day and at night.”