Flats to be classified as Standard, Plus and Prime based on locational attributes from October 2024 BTO exercise onwards
15 projects to be launched – the largest number in a BTO sales exercise, comprising 7 Standard projects, 7 Plus projects, and 1 Prime project

HDB will offer 8,573 Standard, Plus, and Prime flats across 15 projects under the New Flat Classification Framework in the October 2024 Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise – the largest number of projects launched in a BTO exercise to date. The flats to be offered make up more than 40% of the new HDB flat supply for 2024. The 15 projects are spread over the nine HDB towns of Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Batok, Jurong West, Geylang, Kallang/Whampoa, Pasir Ris, Sengkang and Woodlands.

New Classification Framework for BTO projects based on Locational Attributes

2 It was announced in the Prime Minister’s National Day Rally speech in August 2023 that HDB would be shifting from the current town-based classification framework for new flats, to a location-based classification framework in 2024. Starting from the October 2024 BTO exercise, HDB will be introducing a new classification framework, where BTO projects will be classified into Standard, Plus and Prime projects based on a holistic assessment of their locational attributes which include:

Proximity to city centre;
Transport connectivity; and
Availability of amenities, such as social and commercial services that are typically found in town centres.

3 Under the New Flat Classification Framework, BTO projects will be categorised into three categories viz. Standard, Plus, or Prime:

Standard projects will form the largest category of BTO flats to be launched every year.
Plus projects would tend to be in choicer locations with good connectivity, proximity to amenities, and the city centre. Some may also come with unique features, such as waterfront living.
Prime projects would tend to be in exceptionally good locations. They would tend to be centrally located, typically within or near the central region and/or major town centres, and are therefore well-served by comprehensive amenities, and have excellent transport connectivity.

4 The new classification will not apply to existing HDB flats and flats launched before the October 2024 BTO exercise.

Keeping BTO Flats Affordable Under The New Flat Classification Framework

5 Given their more favourable locational attributes, Plus and Prime flats would naturally command higher market values. To keep them affordable, they will be priced with additional subsidies, on top of the significant market discounts applied to all BTO flats. The additional subsidies ensure that more Singaporeans over a wider range of income levels will be able to afford these costlier flats, not just those who have more means. This helps us to maintain a good social mix in our neighbourhoods. To maintain parity with other BTO flat buyers who are not accorded these additional subsidies, buyers of Plus and Prime flats will be required to return a percentage of the resale price or valuation of the flat (whichever is higher), when they subsequently sell their flat. This subsidy recovery percentage will vary from project to project and will be commensurate with the extent of the additional subsidies provided when the flat is sold by HDB. This ensures a fair system of subsidies for all buyers. Similar to current Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) flats, the subsidy recovery rate will be made known to flat buyers when these projects are launched for sale.

Tighter Sales Conditions and Subsidy Recovery Upon Resale

6 In addition, to ensure that buyers purchase Plus and Prime flats for genuine occupation needs, these flats will come with tighter resale and rental conditions, as shown in Table 1 below. The additional subsidies, along with the more stringent ownership conditions, will help to keep Plus and Prime flats affordable, both at initial sale and subsequent resale. For example, there will be additional restrictions for buyers of Plus and Prime resale flats. Taken together, these additional measures will benefit the current generation of flat buyers, and also future generations buying from the resale market.

Table 1: Buying a New Flat

	Standard	Plus	Prime
Location	Largest category of BTO supply, may come with 1-2 good locational attributes like near to MRT stations or good amenities	Choicer locations, e.g. nearer to city centre, good connectivity, good amenities, and/or with unique features like waterfront living	Choicest locations, e.g. centrally located, excellent connectivity, and comprehensive amenities and/or with unique features like waterfront living
Flat Type	Families: All flat types where applicable Singles: 2-room Flexi flats
Income Ceiling	Families: $14,000 (for extended families buying 3-room^[1] or larger flats: $21,000) Singles: $7,000 (short-lease 2-room Flexi Flats: $14,000)
Subsidies	Significant market discounts	More subsidies in addition to significant market discounts	Most subsidies in addition to significant market discounts
Subsidy Recovery	No	Yes (less than Prime)	Yes
MOP	5 years	10 years	10 years
Resale of Flat	Allowed after MOP, with tighter resale conditions for Plus and Prime flats (see Table 2 for details)
Investment in Private Residential Property	Allowed after MOP
Renting Out Whole Flat	Allowed after MOP^[2]	Not Allowed	Not Allowed
Renting Out Spare Rooms	Allowed for 3-room or larger flats

[1] Applicable only to projects with an income ceiling of $14,000.
[2] Not allowed for 2-room Flexi flats sold on short leases and Community Care Apartments.

Table 2: Buying a Resale Flat

	Standard	Plus	Prime
Citizenship	SC/SPR	At least one SC
Flat Type	Families: All flat types where applicable Singles: 2-room Prime, any Standard or Plus flat (except 3Gen flats)
Income Ceiling	None	Families and Singles: $14,000	Families: $14,000 Singles: $7,000
Private Property Owners	Wait out 15 months from the disposal of their private residential property^[3]	Wait out 30 months from the disposal of their private residential property Wait out 30 months from the disposal of their second and subsequent non-residential property. Those who own only one non-residential property do not need to dispose the property nor wait out 30 months.

[3] Singapore Citizens and their spouse (if any) are exempted from the 15-month wait-out period if they are aged 55 and above and buying a 4-room or smaller non-subsidised resale Standard flat.

Classification Of Projects Offered In The October 2024 BTO Exercise

7 In the October 2024 BTO exercise, there will be seven Standard projects, seven Plus projects and one Prime project, respectively accounting for about 58%, 38% and 4% of the flats launched this round.

Standard Projects
Seven Standard projects will be offered in five towns located across Singapore, in Bukit Batok, Jurong West, Pasir Ris, Sengkang and Woodlands. Comprising a total of 4,988 flats, ranging from 2-room Flexi to 3Gen flats, these Standard projects make up the largest supply of new flats in the October BTO exercise.

Project	Location	No. of flats
West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok^#	Bukit Batok	689
Taman Jurong Skyline	Jurong West	1,844
Costa Riviera I	Pasir Ris	276
Costa Riviera II	Pasir Ris	491
Fernvale Oasis^@#	Sengkang	851
Fernvale Sails^#	Sengkang	545
Marsiling Ridge	Woodlands	292
Total number of Standard flats offered		4,988

@ Integrated with rental flats
# Shorter waiting time project

Plus projects
Seven Plus projects will be offered in four towns, in Kallang/Whampoa, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok (Bayshore and Kembangan) and Geylang. These projects are sited in choicer locations with good connectivity and/or unique features. For example, Kallang View is located between the Kallang and Geylang Bahru MRT Stations, both of which offer a short commute to the city centre. While Bayshore Vista and Bayshore Palms are slightly further from the city centre, they offer a unique waterfront living experience, with sea view on the upper floors.

Project	Location	No. of flats
Kallang View	Kallang/Whampoa	271
Towner Breeze	Kallang/Whampoa	355
Central Trio @ AMK	Ang Mo Kio	422
Bayshore Vista^@	Bedok	734
Bayshore Vista^@		710
Kembangan Wave		348
Merpati Alcove	Geylang	433
Total number of Plus flats offered		3,273

@ Integrated with rental flats

Prime project
Crawford Heights in Kallang/Whampoa (between North Bridge Road and Crawford Street) is the only Prime project offered in the October 2024 BTO exercise.

Project	Location	No. of flats
Crawford Heights	Kallang/Whampoa	312
Total number of Plus flats offered		312

8 The new location-based classification marks a major shift away from the current town-based classification. This means that there will be projects with different classifications within the same town, due to variations in locational attractiveness. For example, Crawford Heights (Prime), Kallang View (Plus), and Towner Breeze (Plus) are all located in Kallang/Whampoa. However, only Crawford Heights is classified as Prime, given its superior locational attributes, i.e. it is located within a 5-minute walk to Lavender MRT station, near the Rochor River, Kallang Riverside Park, and the future Kallang Alive precinct which will feature a new indoor stadium, as well as training and sports facilities. Likewise, Plus projects could also be in the same town as Standard projects. This is similar to how PLH projects and normal BTO projects have been launched in some mature estates like Queenstown and Kallang/Whampoa in recent years, due to the different locational attributes of the specific projects¹. This also means that Prime flats will not be limited to just the Central Area and towns immediately surrounding the city centre (Bukit Merah, Queenstown, Kallang/Whampoa).

9 The classification of each project will be announced at launch to ensure that buyers make an informed decision.

More Housing Options For Singles

10 Starting with the October 2024 BTO exercise, eligible first-timer singles will be able to apply for new 2-room Flexi flats across Standard, Plus, and Prime projects in all locations², providing them with more housing options. Previously, singles were limited to applying for projects in non-mature estates. For this launch, singles will be able to choose from almost 2,000 2-room Flexi flats across 10 projects in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Batok, Jurong West, Kallang/Whampoa, Pasir Ris, and Sengkang. HDB will continue to launch a good spread of 2-room Flexi flats across all categories in coming BTO exercises.

Continued Support for Singaporeans, in Every Stage of Life

11 In tandem with the implementation of the New Flat Classification Framework, consequential alignments will be made to various areas including the flat allocation quotas for first-timer applicants, as well as the ballot chances, and the proportion of flat supply set aside under the various priority schemes. Key revisions are summarised in Annex A. In general, parameters that previously applied to non-mature estate flats will now be applied to Standard flats, and parameters that previously only applied to PLH flats will now only apply to Prime flats.

12 Flat applicants may apply for one flat type in one town during the 8-day application period. Flat applicants must have a valid HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter³ before they can apply for a new flat. It takes about a month to process an HFE letter application after HDB has received all the required documents, and processing time may take longer during peak periods, like in the lead-up to a sales launch. HDB is currently processing the HFE applications received before 16 September 2024 from flat buyers interested to participate in the October 2024 BTO exercise.

¹ For example, in the November 2022 BTO exercise, among the three projects in Queenstown, Ghim Moh Natura and Ulu Pandan Banks were offered as PLH projects while Queensway Canopy was offered as a normal BTO project.
² Singapore citizens who are first-timers, aged 35 and above, and are married to a non-resident can also buy new 2-room Flexi flats in all locations, across Standard, Plus, and Prime projects.
³ The HFE letter will inform flat buyers upfront of their eligibility for a new or resale flat purchase, CPF housing grants, and an HDB housing loan.

New Flat Classification Framework to Ensure Affordable Homeownership, a Good Social Mix, and a Fair System