The upcoming Berlayar housing estate — located on the former Keppel Club golf course site in Bukit Merah — will offer about 10,000 homes, comprising 7,000 public flats and 3,000 private units, according to the Housing and Development Board (HDB). This marks an increase from the 6,000 public flats initially planned, following detailed planning and environmental studies of the 48-hectare site.

Berlayar will be the first new estate launched under the Greater Southern Waterfront (GSW) initiative — a landmark project to rejuvenate Singapore’s southern coastline from Marina East to Pasir Panjang into a dynamic district for living, working, and leisure.

Berlayar Residences: The First BTO Project

The estate’s debut project, Berlayar Residences, will be offered in the October Build-to-Order (BTO) exercise. It comprises 870 two-room flexi, three-room, and four-room flats across four blocks ranging from 19 to 46 storeys, along with 200 public rental units. Conveniently located between Telok Blangah and Labrador Park MRT stations, the development will include amenities such as preschools, supermarkets, and eating houses.

Given its prime city-fringe location, property analysts expect Berlayar Residences to be classified under the Prime category — part of HDB’s new classification framework that subjects such flats to longer minimum occupation periods (10 years) and resale subsidy clawbacks.

A Green and Sustainable Urban Oasis

Berlayar has been carefully designed to balance urban development with environmental conservation. Following an Environmental Impact Assessment and extensive engagement with nature groups, HDB has integrated several ecological features into the estate’s masterplan.

About 10 hectares — or 20 per cent of the site — will be dedicated to green spaces, equivalent to roughly 18 football fields. The estate will feature four green corridors, each 30 to 60 metres wide, linking natural habitats between Labrador Nature Reserve and the Southern Ridges.

The Henderson corridor was redesigned to guide bird movement safely, while the Berlayar corridor will help protect the mangrove habitat at Berlayar Creek and connect to a future Berlayar Creek Nature Park. A knoll of mature trees will also be preserved as a resting area for migratory birds.

Beyond parks, residents can look forward to roof gardens, skyrise greenery, and bioswales that help manage stormwater and enhance biodiversity.

Design Inspired by Nature and Heritage

Architecturally, Berlayar’s design draws inspiration from the surrounding hills and coastlines. HDB flats will feature staggered building heights mirroring the slopes of Bukit Merah, oriented to offer scenic views of the Southern Ridges and waterfront.

In keeping with its maritime setting, buildings will be painted in white and blue tones, with artistic motifs of local fauna such as the long-winged tomb bat, mangrove horseshoe crab, and smooth-coated otter appearing in community spaces and signage.

Sustainability and Mobility

Aligned with Singapore’s push for eco-friendly living, Berlayar will be a car-lite estate, with a comprehensive walking and cycling network connecting residents to transport nodes and nearby amenities.

HDB also announced that all new developments in Berlayar will feature smart lighting, energy-efficient designs, and cool roof coatings to combat the urban heat island effect.

National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat, unveiling the masterplan at the annual HDB Awards, described Berlayar as “an exciting first step towards realising our vision for urban living along the Greater Southern Waterfront.”

“More than just a housing estate,” he added, “Berlayar will be a vibrant waterfront community where nature, heritage and modern living come together.”

With its mix of modern homes, rich biodiversity, and sustainable design, Berlayar estate signals a bold new chapter in Singapore’s urban development — one that harmonises people, nature, and the city’s evolving southern skyline.