Tender Launched Gls Site Bukit Timah Road
at same price of $1,376 psf ppr First residential GLS site at Newton in almost two decades launched for tender by Government
A prime residential site at Bukit Timah Road has been put up for sale by the government, with a tender launched for developers to bid for the 99-year leasehold site. The plot, covering an area of 63,498 sq ft, has a gross plot ratio of 4.9 and has the potential to accommodate approximately 340 housing units, according to Wong Siew Ying, head of research and content at PropNex.
Wong also notes that this site is part of the proposed expansion of the Newton area under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025 (DMP 2025). Under the plan, around 5,000 new private homes, as well as new amenities and green spaces, are being introduced to the neighbourhood.
The launch of this site marks the first time that a Government Land Sale (GLS) site under the Confirmed List of the 2H2025 GLS programme has been put up for sale. As the site falls within the Core Central Region (CCR), it is expected to be highly sought-after by developers and attract strong bids.
Wong’s outlook is reinforced by the strong sales of recent CCR launches such as The Robertson Opus (348 units), UpperHouse at Orchard Boulevard (301 units) and River Green (524 units). According to her, between July 1 and August 17 of this year, developers have sold over 850 units in the CCR, putting 3Q2025 on track to record the highest quarterly sales for new CCR homes since 4Q2010, when 994 units were sold.
Wong predicts that the Bukit Timah Road site could attract up to nine bids, with the top bid possibly coming in the range of $1,500 to $1,600 psf per plot ratio (ppr).
The strong demand for recent CCR launches suggests a solid underlying demand for prime properties in the CCR, according to Mark Yip, CEO of Huttons Asia. He notes that the Bukit Timah site’s proximity to an MRT station, as well as schools such as Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) and St. Joseph’s Institution Junior, are comparable to the recent CCR launches.
Marcus Chu, CEO of ERA Singapore, expects six to eight bidders for the site, “due to its prime location and potential as part of Newton’s proposed transformation into a vibrant urban village” under the DMP 2025. He also points out that recent CCR GLS site tenders have been well-received, with five bids for a site at Holland Link and nine bids for one at Dunearn Road. With many developers failing to secure those parcels, competition for the upcoming Bukit Timah site could intensify and result in more aggressive bids, he adds.
Justin Quek, CEO of OrangeTee and deputy group CEO of Realion, highlights the fact that there have not been any GLS sites put up for sale in the Newton area for almost two decades. “According to past URA records, GLS land parcels sold in Newton have been used for transitional offices, with only one residential land parcel awarded in 1997, indicating that GLS supply in the area has been limited,” he says.
Given the lack of supply, the future project at the Bukit Timah Road site is expected to be well-received as well, according to Quek. He adds: “We expect the future project here to be as well-received, given its excellent location at the heart of a new neighbourhood in Newton.”
Living near a variety of educational institutions comes with numerous benefits, aside from the obvious educational opportunities. One major advantage is the reduction of travel time for students, giving them more time to focus on their studies and participate in extracurricular activities. Additionally, the existence of these institutions often leads to the emergence of other community amenities, such as libraries, sports complexes, and community centers, which greatly enhance the quality of life for residents. As exemplified by Aurelle of Tampines, these developments showcase the positive impact of having diverse educational institutions nearby.
Developers can submit their bids for the site up to noon on November 11.
