New estate will provide more housing options for Singaporeans along the Greater Southern Waterfront

Minister for National Development, Mr Chee Hong Tat unveiled the masterplan for Berlayar estate at the HDB Awards Ceremony on 23 September 2025. Located at the site of the former Keppel Club, the new estate marks the start of the transformation of the Greater Southern Waterfront. Following detailed planning studies, Berlayar estate will offer about 7,000 public housing units, up from the previously announced 6,000 units. This will increase the total housing yield of the estate to approximately 10,000 homes, including about 3,000 private housing units. These plans are part of a broader strategy to enhance the geographical distribution of public housing and cater to the evolving aspirations and diverse needs of Singaporeans, including young families who wish to live near their parents for mutual care and support.

Artist’s impression of Berlayar estate.

2 The first Build-To-Order (BTO) project, Berlayar Residences, will be launched in October 2025, offering 870 2-room Flexi, 3-room, and 4-room flats. There will also be 200 public rental flats within the project. More details on the project, including its classification, will be announced at the October 2025 sales exercise. HDB will progressively launch the rest of the projects in the coming years.

Berlayar Estate — Harbourfront Living Close to Nature

3 The 48-hectare site has been earmarked for residential use in URA’s Master Plan since 2014. The name ‘Berlayar’ (which means “sailing” in Malay) draws inspiration from the area’s landmarks and maritime heritage. Of particular significance is the granite outcrop ‘Batu Berlayar’ (“sailing rock” in Malay), which once served as a navigational marker at Keppel Harbour’s western entrance. Today, the name ‘Berlayar' is still used in landmarks in the area, such as Berlayar Beacon, Tanjung Berlayar and Berlayar Creek.

4 Given the scale of the site and its proximity to several nature areas such as the Labrador Nature Reserve, Berlayar Creek, and Southern Ridges (which includes Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Kent Ridge Park), HDB worked closely with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and National Parks Board (NParks) to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to better understand the existing biodiversity of the area and guide development. The agencies also held several rounds of engagements with different stakeholders such as nature groups to gather their feedback and suggestions on the proposed plans. These suggestions have been incorporated into the plans for Berlayar, where feasible.

5 Berlayar estate, planned as an extension of Bukit Merah town, will offer future residents the experience of harbourfront living close to nature.

Distinctive waterfront homes set amidst lush greenery

6 Drawing inspiration from the sloping hills of Bukit Merah, the BTO projects in Berlayar estate will be designed with staggered heights to form a distinctive terracing skyline along Singapore’s southern coast. The blocks will be oriented to provide more residents with scenic views of the Southern Ridges and the coast from their units.

The BTO blocks in Berlayar will be designed with staggered heights, forming a distinctive terracing skyline along Singapore’s southern coast.

7 To enrich the unique identity and natural heritage of the estate, the BTO developments will adopt a white and blue colour palette that mirrors their waterfront setting. Motifs of fauna species found in the area will also be incorporated into the design of the developments. For example, at Berlayar Residences, the first BTO project, motifs of the long-winged tomb bat, mangrove horseshoe crab and smooth coated otter, will be featured in its community living rooms and wayfinding signages. The playgrounds will also be themed after the area’s flora and fauna, with designs inspired by the smooth-coated otters and their natural habitats in Berlayar Creek and the nearby mangrove forest.

The design of the playgrounds in Berlayar Residences is inspired by the smooth-coated otters and their natural habitats found in the area.

A wide range of green spaces and amenities

8 Residents of Berlayar estate will enjoy ample greenery, with up to 10 hectares, or 20% of the site area, set aside for green spaces. This is equivalent to about 18 football fields.

9 Four green corridors, ranging from 30 to 60 metres wide, will weave through the estate, offering green respite and recreational areas for residents, and facilitating ecological connectivity between the Southern Ridges and Labrador Nature Reserve. These green corridors will feature a planting palette that includes biodiversity-attracting species to create conducive habitats for fauna to thrive.

Four green corridors will weave through Berlayar estate, serving as green respite and recreational areas for residents, while facilitating ecological connectivity between the Southern Ridges and Labrador Nature Reserve.

10 The alignment and design of the green corridors have been refined to take on board the recommendations from the EIA as well as feedback and suggestions from nature groups, which focused on enhancing avian connectivity through Berlayar estate. For example:

(a) Central Corridor, originally planned to range from 10 to 50 metres in width, has been widened to 60 metres to enhance ecological connectivity and facilitate habitat creation. Forming part of a new park for residents, it will be the largest of the green corridors, stretching from Telok Blangah Road in the north to Berlayar Creek in the south. This corridor will serve as the key green space for the neighbourhood, weaving together community spaces and natural habitats.

(b) Henderson Corridor has been realigned to lead birds towards the forest at Bukit Chermin and Labrador Nature Reserve, and away from existing high-rise developments.

(c) The Berlayar Corridor along the edge of Berlayar Creek will buffer the mangrove habitat there from the new developments. Berlayar Corridor will also form a part of the upcoming Berlayar Creek Nature Park.

(d) At the north-western corner of the site, where the Northern Corridor and Berlayar Corridor meet, a hill knoll with several mature trees serves as an important resting and landing point for birds flying over the West Coast Highway from the Southern Ridges. It will be retained and integrated as part of the future park spaces.

11 Beyond green spaces, residents will also enjoy a vibrant mix of amenities within walking distance of their homes. This includes preschools, supermarkets, eating houses, shops, and clinics. More amenities are also available at the nearby Telok Blangah estate, including the existing Telok Blangah Community Club as well as a new food centre and market which will be completed by 2027.

A wide range of dining options and recreational facilities, set amidst greenery, will cater to residents’ daily needs while providing opportunities to enjoy nature at their doorstep.

12 Within each BTO project, there will be a range of recreational facilities, such as playgrounds for children of different age groups, and fitness corners to promote active living among residents. These facilities encourage community bonding while promoting health and well-being.

Each BTO project will feature a range of recreational facilities, such as playgrounds and fitness corners, to encourage residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Well-connected precincts

13 Residents will benefit from Berlayar’s central location and connectivity. Most homes will be within a 10-minute walk from Labrador Park or Telok Blangah MRT station, allowing residents to travel conveniently within and beyond Bukit Merah town. Gazetted as a car-lite estate, Berlayar is designed to prioritise spaces for public facilities and greenery. The estate will also feature well-connected walking and cycling networks that provide residents with convenient access to public transport nodes, amenities, and lush green spaces.

Residents will have convenient access to amenities and transport nodes via the estate’s network of walking and cycling paths.

Smart and sustainable features within the estate

14 Berlayar estate will be developed with sustainable design strategies to create a green and comfortable living environment for residents. The blocks will be painted with cool coatings and arranged in the north-south direction where possible, to reduce urban heat and enhance residents’ comfort. Environmental simulations on wind flow, temperature, solar irradiance, and sun-shadow analysis will be conducted to optimise the orientation of blocks for natural ventilation, identify ideal shaded locations for playgrounds, and guide the placement of greenery in hotspots to mitigate urban heat gain.

15 In addition, all the BTO developments will feature smart lighting systems and Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) design features, including rain gardens and bioswales, to improve stormwater management and enhance the urban ecosystem.

Berlayar exhibition

16 For more details, the public can visit the Berlayar exhibition at HDB Hub, Level 1 from 24 September 2025.

HDB Unveils Masterplan for Berlayar Estate: Harbourfront Living Close to Nature