At this year’s Committee of Supply debate on 5 March 2024, Minister for National Development Mr Desmond Lee shared plans to develop a new housing area within Yishun town, as part of efforts to meet housing demand. Chencharu in Yishun will offer around 10,000 new homes by 2040, of which at least 80% will be set aside for public housing. This will provide a sizeable supply of new homes for Singaporeans, including families who wish to live near their parents in the area to provide mutual care and support. 

2 The first Build-to-Order (BTO) project in Chencharu with about 1,270 units comprising a mix of two-room Flexi to five-room flats will be launched this month, and HDB will progressively launch the rest of the projects in the coming years. More details about each project will be shared at launch.  

Chencharu will yield more than 10,000 new homes, most of which would be public housing

3 Envisioned to be ‘A Vibrant Village, Connecting Communities and Heritage’, the plans for Chencharu will capitalise on its history and heritage, social memories, and convenient transport nodes. Existing amenities will be complemented by new facilities to be developed, to offer residents a unique living experience in a vibrant community. Residents can look forward to:

1. Distinctive homes and park spaces that celebrate Chencharu’s history and heritage
2. A wide array of amenities to enliven the estate, for residents’ convenience
3. Well-connected precincts that encourage green commuting and healthy living
4. Smart and sustainable features for a more comfortable living environment

Chencharu – A Vibrant Village, Connecting Communities and Heritage 

Aerial perspective of the area in Chencharu that will be first developed

4 Bounded by Yishun Avenues 1 and 2, and Sembawang Road, the 70-hectare Chencharu site was home to plantations and farms in the 1900s, before it was redeveloped for various uses, including recreational and commercial uses, under the Yishun New Town Project in 1976. It has been earmarked for residential use since the Master Plan 2019.

5 Besides new homes, Chencharu will offer new amenities and facilities to provide greater convenience for residents. These will complement existing ones in the vicinity i.e. a neighbourhood park, HomeTeamNS Khatib, Khatib Central Neighbourhood Centre, and Khatib MRT station. There are also plans for a new educational institution and nursing home, to cater to the needs of residents across different age groups. 

Distinctive Homes and Park Spaces that Celebrate Heritage

 
Artist’s Impression of the first BTO project in Chencharu to be launched in June 2024

6 The first BTO project in Chencharu, which will be launched in June 2024, will comprise about 1,270 units of 2-room Flexi to 5-room flats. Drawing inspiration from Chencharu’s history, the project is designed to incorporate elements of an approximately 100-year-old two-storey colonial-era bungalow along 50 Bah Soon Pah Road. For instance, the black outline around the first few floors of the BTO project gives an idea of how high above ground the bungalow was, while its red, black, and white façade mirrors the colours of the bungalow. In addition, wayfinding motifs/icons used in the project, such as pineapple and mackerel, have been chosen in acknowledgment of Yishun’s agricultural history. 

7 Features of the bungalow will also be reinterpreted in the design of other precinct facilities, such as the landscape shelters, drop-off porch and precinct pavilion. For example, the drop-off porch will take on the alternating red/brown and white stripes, reminiscent of the red pitched roof and black and white stripes seen on the bungalow. 

Artist’s Impression of new park in Chencharu incorporating existing bungalow atop a small hill

8 The bungalow itself, which was a plantation house likely built in the early 1910s by the Bukit Sembawang Rubber Company, will be adapted for community uses within a new park. Designed with health and wellness concepts, the park will house various open spaces, including playgrounds, fitness corners with exercise equipment, open lawns and hard courts for sports, and a therapeutic garden. A heritage trail, featuring a series of gardens and storyboards, will also be incorporated for residents to learn about the area’s history. Residents will be able to easily access this green space via various connections from upcoming BTO projects. Together, these features aim to promote social connectedness, active lifestyles, and mental wellness among residents. 

Wide Array of Amenities that Enliven the Streets

Perspective of the community avenue

9 At the heart of Chencharu, a community avenue is planned as the main east-west thoroughfare, to connect the new park to the existing neighbourhood park near Khatib MRT. There will be a mixed-use Integrated Development along community avenue, comprising a new bus interchange, hawker centre, and shops, creating a lively public space where residents can gather and mingle.

10 In addition, Ground-up Initiative – a non-profit initiative known for its focus on sustainability and community building – as well as the Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum will be relocated from their current locations in Lorong Chencharu, to a nearby site adjacent to HomeTeamNS Khatib. This will not only enable existing community activities in these unique recreational spaces to continue, but also create opportunities to forge strong social bonds with new residents of Chencharu, thereby enhancing the identity of Chencharu as a vibrant contemporary kampung. 

Well-connected Precincts that Encourage Green Commute and Healthy Living

11 Future residents of Chencharu will enjoy good transport connectivity. A new road called Chencharu Link will be constructed to run north-south through the centre of Chencharu, with housing developments and amenities flanking it on both sides. The 400-metre road will be designated as a bus-only corridor, providing dedicated road space for smoother bus journeys. Together with the bus interchange within the new Integrated Development, and existing public transport options such as Khatib MRT station and bus services along Yishun Avenue 2 and Sembawang Road, Chencharu residents will enjoy seamless public transport connectivity within and outside of Yishun town.

Perspective of the bus-only corridor along Chencharu Link

12 Alongside convenient public transport links, Chencharu will feature walking and cycling paths to provide safe and seamless connections to amenities and transport nodes. Lined with rustic kampung-themed streetscapes e.g. Island Lychee (Pometia pinnata) and Hopea trees, these paths will provide a pleasant experience for those exploring Chencharu and the wider Yishun town. These paths will also connect to the cycling network beyond Yishun, giving cyclists easy access to neighbouring towns like Sembawang, recreation nodes such as Khatib Bongsu and Lower Seletar Reservoir, as well as the upcoming North-South Corridor.

A Smart and Sustainable Estate

13 In line with Singapore’s vision to be a green and sustainable city, the development of Chencharu will be guided by sustainable design strategies, and homes there will come with smart infrastructure. 

14 Homes will be oriented in the north-south direction to improve natural ventilation and minimise amount of direct sunlight entering the flats and subsequent build-up of heat. Where applicable, studies on wind flow, temperature, solar irradiance, and sun-shadow analysis will be carried out to create a green and comfortable living environment.

15 HDB will also implement smart and sustainable initiatives, such as the Smart Lighting System and UrbanWater Harvesting System, where applicable. Homes will also incorporate provisions to facilitate the adoption of smart home solutions.

Upcoming Developments in the North 

16 Besides Chencharu, residents can also look forward to other upcoming developments in the northern region of Singapore in Sembawang and Woodlands. More information about these new housing areas will be shared when ready.