HDB BTO May 2015 - Eastlink I & II @ Canberra

This development is expected to be hot as it is right smack in front of the future NS12 Canberra MRT station.

There are only 2,3 and 4 room units available so those planning for a 5 room will be disappointed.

Of the two, Eastlink I will be favorable as it is the nearest to the MRT station and there is a neighbourhood centre within it which faces the station acting as a buffer between the station and the units to lessen noise and dust from the main road. The carpark is also just just two storeys high with an underground car park which means you can simply park your car, walk to the lift and go straight to your unit floor.

Except for some units in block 118B in Eastlink Two that faces north-east or south-west, all other units are either south-east or north-west facing. I personally will choose any east facing units as the morning sun is always better than the afternoon sun.

All units are also either facing internal compound or facing the road. Most of those facing internal compound in Eastlink I are too close for comfort as the opposite units are about 20 m apart. Similar units in Eastlink II are better as is it twice as far - about 50 m which is pretty acceptable.

Even those units in Eastlink II facing the drainage reserve only has about 30 m to the opposite unit in another development which is under constructions.

Choice Units

Unit 51, 53, 67, 69, 71, 73, 87 and 89 in Eastlink I will have unblock view as it is facing Sungei Simpang Kiri and a park connector. Although it will face future high rise industrial development, it still will have at least 100 m of buffer. Another plus side is that it will be south-east facing. This is should be hot units for 4 room units.

Units 75, 77, 79, 81, 83, 85, 568, 570, 572 and 574 in Eastlink I will face the internal compound but will have a huge buffer and the roof garden between the opposite units. This should be choice units for 2 and 3 room units.

Unit 342 and 344 in Eastlink II may be facing the internal compound but the opposite unit is at least 100 m away. This should be choice units for Eastlink Two.

All other internal facing units except for 364 and 376 in Eastlink II should be pretty fine as there is enough buffer between the opposite units and a roof garden view to boot.

NS12 Canberra station confirmed

As expected, the NS12 station between Yishun and Sembawang will be built, as confirmed by Transport Minister Tuck Yew today. Even the station name, Canberra, was as expected.

Good news to all those who were successful for the BTO launch around that area.

It is time to push the government to build the Brickland station, which is between Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Gombak, especially those who were waiting to collect their keys to the BTO projects around that area.

HDB May 2013 BTO - Sembawang - EastWave@Canberra

Another BTO in Sembawang with only 4 and 5 rooms, just like EastBank@Canberra.

Layout is also pretty similar, although each block curves outwards which means some units facing internal compound may be closer to the opposite unit than the rest.

Unlike EastBank@Canberra, EastWave@Canberra comes with a 7 storey MSCP. It also comes with a 3 storey centre that houses a eating house, a supermarket, some shops and a childcare center for convenience.

Some units facing the car park will have about 35m of buffer so if you only have the lower units to choose from, it is not so bad. However, stay away from the lower units of 301, 303, 305, 317 and 319 as the heavy vehicular traffic it faces will only mean noise. To play it safe, units higher than the MSCP would be better.

Best unit would definitely be 329 as it faces a future park. That means unblock view. Unit 401 and 403 faces the park too but will receive the scorching afternoon sun.

High floor units facing the future school will have unblock views too but as a trade off, it will get the afternoon sun plus the noise from the school.

Units facing the future Canberra Way are facing the morning sun so these are not so bad either, except for lower floor units of 353 as it is very close to the MSCP even though it does not face it directly.

As for units facing the internal compound, units in blocks 120C and 120D are preferred as they face the morning sun as compared to those in blocks 120A and 120B which faces the afternoon sun.

Source - HDB

HDB May 2013 BTO - Sembawang - EastBank@Canberra

Another development in Sembawang which consists of only 4 and 5 rooms but with a single story car park, if that matters to you.

Even if you do not drive, developments without MSCP only means more common space hence the reason why practically any unit you choose will guarantee you some privacy. Unit facing the internal compound, for example, will have at least 60 meters from the next unit. That is very generous and a rare thing compared to many BTOs before this.

Also, if you notice, there are no ugly covered linkways because the whole of the internal compound is the covered linkway between the blocks.

For those who drive, you can park your car, walk to the lift that will bring you straight to your floor unlike traditional MSCP where you are more likely to take the stairs/lift down, walk to your block then take another lift to your floor. If it rains, an 'underground' carpark is not effected at all while for an MSCP, it all depends on how the linkways are built as for some, you may need to walk a distance even though your block is just beside the MSCP.

If you like to be near the waters, then those facing the drainage reserve will suit you, although it is just a drain. That should give you a good buffer of about 40 meters from the next development, Eastbrooks@Canberra. However, all the units will receive the afternoon sun. Units 713, 701, 729 and 717 will receive the afternoon sun on the master bedroom walls.

The best unit among these would definitely be 719 as it will have an unblocked view of almost the whole strech of Sungei Simpang Kiri as it is not blocked by the development in EastBrook@Canberra at all. In fact, this is the best unit to choose from for a 5 room.

For the units facing the internal compound, those facing south-east will be a better choice as compared to those facing north-west as the former will get the morning sun while the latter will get the afternoon sun like units 711 and 747 which will bear the brunt of the afternoon sun on the master bedroom walls.

Units facing the future Canberra Way road will experience noise but it does have quite a buffer from the next development plus it will only get the morning sun except unit 745 which will get the afternoon sun on the master bedroom walls. However, but just like unit 743, it is quite a distance from the next development thanks to it facing the future Canberra Street.

The best unit for a 4 room would definitely be unit 721. It will have a good view, facing the Sungei Simpang Kiri and is a huge distance from the future development - about 100m! Although it receives the morning sun, that is not so bad actually.

Unit 737 has almost the same benefits of unit 721 with practically no morning sun. However the afternoon sun will hit it hard on the master bedroom walls. The plus to that is that your clothes will dry faster, with the service yard getting the sunlight required.

Unit 739 and 741 is not so bad either. It has good buffer and it gets only the morning sun.

As for location wise, hopefully the new NS12 MRT station that will be build will be ready at the same time.

Summary
Pros - Near future NS12 MRT Station. Single storey car park.
Cons - No eatery or supermarkets within development.

Source - HDB

HDB May 2013 BTO preview - Sembawang

Following my previous article on Simpang New Town which touched on development of the said area, it now seems that the area is considered as Canberra part of Sembawang Town with the release of this new BTO information.

Two of the three parcels of land to be developed for the upcoming BTO is along the Sungei Simpang Kiri, which is actually just a big drain but with a park connector running along it, the 'longkang' feel is partially masked.

Source: HDB

The good thing about this new development is that there will be a new Canberra Station (NS12) of the North-South line somewhere along Canberra Link so it is expected to be quite popular.

Source: LTA

Connectivity in terms of road network for the area will also be vastly improved with the new "Proposed Road" to be linked to Yishun Ave 1 via Yishun Ave 6 to the south, allowing quicker access to the Seletar Aerospace Park in Seletar West Link and the future SLE/TPE/CTE interchange as per LTA plan to improve connectivity in the North.

To the north, the "Proposed Road" will be linked to Admiralty Road East which will end up right to the Causeway.

Source: LTA

The new North South Expressway will also be along Gambas Avenue which can be accessed by Sembawang Avenue. The SLE towards BKE is also accessible by using Woodlands Ave 12.

Source: LTA

New Canberra station (NS12) of the NS Line

As mentioned in my earlier post, there will be a new Canberra station, the missing NS12 of the North South Line.

It is now confirmed by the Transport Minister, Lui Tuck Yew in a few news report

More new MRT lines to be built by 2030 - Straits Time

MRT network size to double by 2030 - AsiaOne

S'pore to have two new MRT lines by 2030 - Channel News Asia

Plans to build two new MRT lines by 2030 - InSing


UPDATE: 

Below is the latest LTA Masterplan where the NS12 is mentioned a couple of times