The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has completed all 92 Build-To-Order (BTO) projects delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Construction of the last two developments, Punggol Point Cove and Kempas Residences, wrapped up in January 2025, marking the end of disruptions caused by the global crisis.
There are currently 110 housing projects under construction, an increase from 95 a year ago due to the ramp-up in BTO supply in recent years. With the last two delayed projects completed, the HDB is reported to be on track to complete about 17,000 flats across 27 projects in 2025.
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Completion of the last two delayed projects: Punggol Point Cove and Kempas Residences
At Punggol Point Cove phase two, five of its six blocks were finished in November and December of last year. The final block was completed earlier this month, marking a 12-month delay from its initial completion date. The delay was due to halted construction during the circuit breaker in 2020 and the termination of its original contractor, CKR Contract Services, in mid-2023. A new contractor, Qingjian International (South Pacific) Group Development, was appointed in August 2023 to finish the work.
This development includes 1,179 units of two-room flexi, three-, four-, and five-room flats spread across six residential blocks. By January 15, 657 households (approximately 59% of the 1,109 booked units) at Punggol Point Cove had received their keys. The project completion also concludes the development of the Punggol Point District, which features earlier BTO projects such as Punggol Point Woods and Punggol Point Crown, all completed in 2024.
At Kempas Residences in Boon Keng, the final block was finished in mid-January following a six-month delay. This project, located along Serangoon Road, Lavender Street, and Boon Keng Road, comprises 583 units of two-room flexi, three-, and four-room flats across four residential blocks. By January 15, 37 households, or about 7% of the 555 booked units, had received their keys.
Key collection for homeowners at Punggol Point Cove phase two began in November last year, while those at Kempas Residences started in mid-January. Homeowners of the newly completed units in both projects will be notified about their key collection schedules soon.
Overcoming challenges, 18,000 flats were completed in 2024
HDB completed over 18,000 flats across 22 BTO projects in 2024. Among these, 17 were pandemic-delayed, while one – Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok – faced delays due to contractor changes. Four projects, including Parc Glen @ Tengah and Grove Spring @ Yishun, were completed on schedule, with shorter waiting times of under three years.
Over the past five years, more than 75,800 flats delayed by the pandemic have been completed. Although the completion of delayed BTO projects aligns with HDB’s commitments, it also highlights the need for continued improvements in construction practices. The effects of “long COVID,” like work stoppages, supply chain disruptions, and labour shortages, are reported to linger, plaguing the construction sector.
How to avoid future BTO project delays?
Learning from the pandemic-related delays, HDB has implemented tighter coordination among developers, contractors, and consultants to mitigate future disruptions. The adoption of robotics and automation is expected to address labour shortages, while digital tools help track construction progress. Minister Lee, in his visit to Punggol Point Cove, stressed the importance of these initiatives, acknowledging that while unforeseen disruptions can occur, HDB remains committed to minimising delays.
Additionally, HDB continues to prioritise quality, addressing defects and ensuring customer satisfaction. Residents experiencing issues can seek assistance from the respective building service centres.
Increasing BTO supplies (2025 – 2027)
While 17,000 BTO flats are scheduled for completion throughout 2025, 19,600 new BTO flats are set to launch. This is part of a broader initiative to roll out over 50,000 flats between 2025 and 2027. In the upcoming February BTO 2025 alone, five new BTO projects will be launched. This first batch of BTO exercises this year will offer around 5,000 flats across Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown, Woodlands, and Yishun.
Read more: HDB flat supply 2025 – 2027: What homebuyers should expect
By the end of 2025, the cumulative total of flats launched since 2021 will surpass 102,300. This exceeds HDB’s initial target of launching 100,000 flats to provide affordable housing for Singaporeans.
Thinking about upgrading to an Executive Condominium (EC)? Here is the list of upcoming EC projects in 2025.
About Ananda Bayu
Ananda has been wrangling Singapore's complex real estate trends into readable bites since 2020. She writes like she's explaining it to a friend over kopi — because who has time for jargon? When off the clock, she’s probably doom-scrolling through cat memes on X, convincing herself it's the highest tier of "creative inspiration".
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