# Residents in New Large-Scale Build-To-Order (BTO) Estates to Enjoy Earlier Access to Cooked Food, Groceries, Childcare and Bus Service

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2026-03-04T04:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/residents-in-new-large-scale-build-to-orderbto-estates-to-enjoy-earlier-access-to-cooked-food-groceries-childcare-and-bus-service
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing

## Featured rationale

Earlier amenities and transport may improve new estates’ initial liveability, potentially supporting resident satisfaction and making recently completed BTO projects more attractive.

## AI summary

New large-scale BTO estates will receive shops and childcare within about six months of first key collection, with at least one bus service available immediately.

## Original article

Going forward, residents moving into new large-scale BTO estates1 will enjoy earlier access to cooked food, groceries, childcare centres and bus services, up to three months earlier than before. Other measures to provide an enhanced living environment for these residents will also be introduced.

These improvements follow from the recommendations of the multi-agency BTO Coordination Committee (refer to Annex A for more information on the Committee). The Committee brings together various agencies to better coordinate the timing and provision of services to meet the needs of new residents moving into new large-scale HDB estates. Unlike BTO projects in more developed towns with existing neighbouring amenities within reach, residents moving into new large-scale BTO estates typically have fewer existing amenities around them at the outset. Agencies have therefore worked closely together to bring forward the provision of key amenities to about six months after the first batch of key collection, which is typically when the first batch of residents move into their new homes.

Bringing convenience of daily necessities to new residents sooner

More support for HDB shops in new BTO projects to start operations earlier

HDB seeks to balance between residents’ desire for immediate availability of nearby shops, and shop operators’ preference to start operations when their retail catchment reaches a critical mass. Typically, HDB shops in new BTO projects start operations about nine months after the first batch of residents collects their keys. As a result, residents who move into their new homes earlier may need to wait for some time before shops commence operations. To enable residents to enjoy the convenience of daily necessities near their new homes sooner, HDB will initiate the tender process earlier and provide more support so that shops, including coffee shops and supermarkets, in new BTO projects can commence operations earlier – about six months after the first batch of residents collect their keys.

To support operators who may be concerned about low footfall in the initial months, HDB will introduce the following measures for upcoming tenders for new shops from March 2026:

a) Extended rent-free period: To support operators when their shops are undergoing renovation before they start operations, HDB shops including supermarkets currently enjoy two months of rent-free period, while coffee shops receive three months, from their tenancy commencement date. Moving forward, HDB will extend the rent-free period for all shops in new BTO projects to a maximum of six months for those that commence operations within the first six months from the time that the shops obtained their Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) (refer to Annex B for more information).

b) Revised staggered rent structure for first tenancy term: HDB will revise the staggered rent structure, where tenants of new HDB shops are progressively charged a percentage of their tendered rent across their first three-year tenancy period. For their first year of operation, tenants will pay 70% of their tendered rent, instead of 80% currently. The rents for the second and third year remain unchanged, at 90% and 100% respectively.

For BTO projects launched from July 20252, HDB will also pre-build the Outdoor Refreshment Areas (ORAs) in front of and/or adjacent to the coffee shop, to allow the coffee shops in new BTO projects to be fully operational sooner. Previously, the ORAs were constructed by the operators after tenancy commencement. This move will allow the ORA to be ready alongside the coffee shop, saving operators up to eight months and significant costs, and enabling them to start serving residents earlier. The first coffee shop to feature a pre-built ORA will be in Parc Meadow @ Tengah. Currently under construction, the BTO project is expected to be completed by 1H 2027.

These initiatives will balance business sustainability with residents’ need for timely access to cooked food and groceries.

Childcare centres to commence operations earlier

To provide families with young children earlier access to childcare options, we will plan for childcare centres in BTO projects in new large-scale BTO estates to commence operations within six months after the first batch of residents in the project collect keys to their homes. This is earlier than before, where childcare centres typically commenced operations between seven months to more than a year after the first batch of keys are collected.

To achieve this, HDB and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) have streamlined the construction and handover processes for childcare centres. For example, potential childcare centre operators will be invited to view the premises as early as possible, before the project obtains its TOP. Currently, such viewings are conducted only when construction works are completed. By bringing forward the viewings, potential operators can visualise the space and plan for the requisite agency approvals and renovation works earlier. Additionally, for future projects, HDB will site childcare centres within the first buildings to be completed, where possible.

Bus services to commence in tandem with first key collections

HDB and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will plan for at least one bus service to be operational in tandem with the first batch of key collection for BTO projects in new large-scale BTO estates. These bus services, which will be accessible from a bus stop within walking distance of the BTO project, will connect residents to amenities and transport nodes such as bus interchanges or MRT stations. Residents in Tengah’s Plantation Creek, Garden Waterfront II, and Garden Waterfront I, will be the first to enjoy these enhancements.

The earlier provision of bus services and bus infrastructure is achieved through close coordination between HDB and LTA to expedite road completions and implement bus infrastructure, as well as advance preparations to provide bus services. In cases where a regular service cannot commence immediately, agencies will explore providing interim shuttle bus services.

Providing a more connected and comfortable living environment for residents

Sheltered pedestrian connectivity to more amenities

To enable residents to move around their neighbourhood more comfortably, HDB will work with agencies and Town Councils (TCs) to enhance the standard for the provision of sheltered linkways in BTO projects in new large-scale BTO estates:

a) At completion, BTO projects will typically have sheltered linkways that connect to bus stops and key amenities (e.g. neighbourhood centres, markets/food centres, and community clubs), up to a 200-metre walking distance from the project’s boundary, where feasible3. Previously, sheltered linkways were a standard provision for mainly bus stops, up to a 100-metre walking distance.

b) Additionally, sheltered linkways will be provided to adjacent BTO projects that are within a 100-metre walking distance from the project’s boundary.

These enhancements will allow residents to get to amenities around their estate, regardless of weather conditions, while also encouraging greener and more active commuting. Residents moving to the upcoming Chencharu estate will be among those who will benefit from these enhancements.

More disposal points and stiffer penalties to tackle bulky waste disposal

To further enhance the cleanliness in new large-scale BTO estates, HDB is working closely with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the TCs to tackle indiscriminate dumping of bulky waste during the initial move-in period:

a) NEA will require public waste collectors to work with the TCs to provide receptacles such as metal cages or recycling bins in new BTO projects during the move-in period. This will enable residents to more easily recycle bulky waste such as cardboard boxes, typically discarded in higher volumes during this period.

b) Since August 2025, HDB has been providing 50 percent co-funding to TCs that wish to deploy skip tanks at newly completed projects during the initial move-in period, which is typically within the first year of the project’s completion. To date, these skip tanks have been provided in projects such as Parc Flora @ Tengah and Garden Bloom @ Tengah. HDB will continue to extend the co-funding to the TCs for completing projects in large-scale estates.

c) To further curb indiscriminate dumping by renovation contractors, HDB will review its existing penalty framework and implement stiffer penalties for errant contractors. More information on the review will be shared when ready.

These measures will help to keep the common spaces clean, safe and comfortable for residents moving into their new homes. These initiatives are on top of existing initiatives to tackle indiscriminate dumping at common areas, such as the provision of service bays at HDB projects which can accommodate skip tanks for bulky waste disposal, and regular patrols by agencies and the TCs in the months following the BTO project’s completion, where the volume of moving-in activities is higher. 

A New Standard for New Housing Areas

While every BTO project is unique and operational timelines may vary depending on site conditions and surrounding infrastructure, the BTO Coordination Committee has put in place these measures to establish clearer standards and expectations for new large-scale BTO estates. By doing so, we aim to better address residents’ needs from the time they move in, enabling them to enjoy homes that are more convenient, connected and comfortable from the get-go.

Issued by: MND & HDB
Date: 4 March 2026

1 Large-scale BTO estates refer to estates with clusters of more than 3,000 new BTO flats completed within a period of five years. These typically comprise clusters of three or four BTO projects.

2 Some projects launched before 2025 and are currently under construction, such as Parc Meadow @ Tengah which was launched in 2023, will also feature pre-built ORAs, where feasible.

3 Sheltered linkways will generally be provided on the same side of the road as the BTO project. High-covered linkways across roads will be provided on a case-by-case basis.

Annex A: About the BTO Coordination Committee

Annex B: Extended Rent-Free Period for HDB Shops (including Coffee Shops*)

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 新建大型预购组屋（BTO）市镇居民将更早享有熟食、杂货、托儿与巴士服务

今后，迁入新建大型预购组屋（BTO）市镇¹的居民将更早享有熟食、杂货、托儿中心及巴士服务，较以往最多可提前约三个月。当局也将推出其他措施，为这些居民提供更优质的居住环境。

这些改善措施源于跨部门预购组屋协调委员会的建议（有关该委员会的更多信息见附件A）。该委员会汇集各相关机构，以更好地协调服务的时序与提供，满足迁入新建大型建屋发展局（HDB）市镇的新居民需求。与位于较成熟市镇、周边已有现成配套设施的预购组屋项目不同，迁入新建大型预购组屋市镇的居民在初期通常周围现有设施较少。因此，各机构紧密合作，将关键配套设施的提供时间提前至首批钥匙领取后约六个月，而首批钥匙领取通常也是第一批居民迁入新居之时。

让新居民更早享有日常必需品的便利

加强对新建预购组屋项目内建屋局店面的支持，促其更早开业

建屋局力求在居民希望附近店面尽快开业，与店面经营商希望在零售客源达到一定规模后再开业之间取得平衡。通常，新建预购组屋项目内的建屋局店面约在首批居民领取钥匙后九个月才开始营业。因此，较早迁入新居的居民可能需等待一段时间，店面才会开业。为让居民更早在新居附近享有日常必需品的便利，建屋局将提前启动招标程序，并提供更多支持，使新建预购组屋项目内的店面（包括咖啡店与超级市场）可更早开业——约在首批居民领取钥匙后六个月。

为支持可能担心初期客流偏低的经营商，建屋局将从2026年3月起，在新建店面的招标中推出以下措施：

a）延长免租期：为支持经营商在开业前进行装修，建屋局店面（包括超级市场）目前自租约开始日起享有两个月免租期，咖啡店则为三个月。今后，建屋局将把新建预购组屋项目内所有店面的免租期延长至最长六个月，适用于在店面取得临时入伙准证（TOP）后首六个月内开始营业的店面（更多信息见附件B）。

b）修订首个租约期的分期租金结构：建屋局将修订分期租金结构。新建建屋局店面的租户在首个为期三年的租约期内，按投标租金的一定比例逐步缴付租金。在营运的第一年，租户将缴付投标租金的70%，目前为80%。第二年与第三年的租金比例维持不变，分别为90%与100%。

对于2025年7月起推出的预购组屋项目²，建屋局也将预先建造咖啡店前方及/或相邻的户外餐饮区（ORA），让新建预购组屋项目内的咖啡店能更快全面营运。以往，户外餐饮区由经营商在租约开始后自行建造。此举将使户外餐饮区与咖啡店同步就绪，为经营商节省最多八个月时间及可观成本，并使其能更早为居民提供服务。首个设有预先建造户外餐饮区的咖啡店将位于Parc Meadow @ Tengah。该预购组屋项目目前在建，预计于2027年上半年竣工。

这些举措将在业务可持续性与居民及时获得熟食及杂货需求之间取得平衡。

托儿中心更早开始营运

为让有年幼子女的家庭更早获得托儿选择，我们将规划使新建大型预购组屋市镇内预购组屋项目的托儿中心，在该项目首批居民领取钥匙后六个月内开始营运。这比以往更早——以往托儿中心通常在首批钥匙领取后七个月至一年以上才开始营运。

为实现这一目标，建屋局与幼儿培育署（ECDA）已精简托儿中心的建造与移交流程。例如，潜在托儿中心经营商将尽早获邀参观场所，时间可早于项目取得临时入伙准证之前。目前，此类参观仅在建筑工程完成后进行。通过提前参观，潜在经营商可及早设想空间布局，并规划所需的机构审批与装修工程。此外，对于未来项目，建屋局将在可行情况下，将托儿中心设于首批竣工的建筑物内。

巴士服务与首批钥匙领取同步启动

建屋局与陆路交通管理局（LTA）将规划，使新建大型预购组屋市镇内预购组屋项目至少有一条巴士服务，与首批钥匙领取同步投入营运。这些巴士服务可从预购组屋项目步行距离内的巴士站搭乘，将连接居民至配套设施及交通枢纽，如巴士转换站或地铁站。腾达（Tengah）的Plantation Creek、Garden Waterfront II及Garden Waterfront I的居民将率先享有这些改善。

更早提供巴士服务及巴士基础设施，有赖建屋局与陆路交通管理局紧密协调，加快道路竣工与巴士基础设施落实，并提前筹备巴士服务。若常规服务无法立即启动，各机构将探讨提供临时接驳巴士服务。

为居民提供更互联、更舒适的居住环境

有遮盖人行连廊连接更多配套设施

为让居民更舒适地在邻里走动，建屋局将与各机构及市镇理事会（TC）合作，提高新建大型预购组屋市镇内预购组屋项目有遮盖连廊的供应标准：

a）竣工时，预购组屋项目通常将设有有遮盖连廊，在可行情况下³连接至项目边界步行距离最多200米内的巴士站及主要配套设施（例如邻里中心、巴刹/熟食中心及民众俱乐部）。以往，有遮盖连廊主要作为通往巴士站的标准配置，步行距离最多为100米。

b）此外，还将为项目边界步行距离100米内的相邻预购组屋项目提供有遮盖连廊。

这些改善将让居民无论天气如何都能前往市镇周边配套设施，同时鼓励更绿色、更积极的出行方式。即将迁入陈查鲁（Chencharu）市镇的居民将是受惠者之一。

增设弃置点并加重罚则，打击大型废弃物乱弃

为进一步提升新建大型预购组屋市镇的清洁水平，建屋局正与国家环境局（NEA）及市镇理事会密切合作，应对初期迁入期间大型废弃物的任意弃置问题：

a）国家环境局将要求公共垃圾收集商与市镇理事会合作，在新建预购组屋项目迁入期间提供金属笼或回收桶等容器。这将让居民更方便回收纸皮箱等大型废弃物——此类废弃物在此期间通常弃置量较高。

b）自2025年8月起，建屋局已为有意在新竣工项目初期迁入期间（通常为项目竣工后首年内）部署大型垃圾斗（skip tank）的市镇理事会提供50%共同资助。迄今，这些大型垃圾斗已在Parc Flora @ Tengah及Garden Bloom @ Tengah等项目提供。建屋局将继续向大型市镇内竣工项目的市镇理事会提供共同资助。

c）为进一步遏制装修承包商任意弃置废弃物，建屋局将检讨现有罚则框架，并对违规承包商实施更严厉的罚则。检讨详情将在准备就绪后公布。

这些措施将有助于保持公共空间清洁、安全与舒适，方便居民迁入新居。上述举措是在现有措施之外的加强措施，现有措施包括在建屋局项目提供可容纳大型垃圾斗的服务车位以便弃置大型废弃物，以及在预购组屋项目竣工后数月内（迁入活动量较高时期）由各机构与市镇理事会进行定期巡查。

新建住宅区的新标准

尽管每个预购组屋项目各有独特之处，营运时程也可能因场地条件与周边基础设施而有所不同，预购组屋协调委员会已落实这些措施，为新建大型预购组屋市镇确立更清晰的标准与预期。借此，我们希望从居民迁入之日起更好地满足其需求，让他们从一开始就能享有更便利、更互联、更舒适的家园。

发布机构：国家发展部（MND）及建屋发展局（HDB）
日期：2026年3月4日

¹ 大型预购组屋市镇指在五年内竣工超过3,000个新预购组屋单位的市镇群。这些市镇群通常由三至四个预购组屋项目组成。

² 部分于2025年前推出、目前仍在建的项目，例如2023年推出的Parc Meadow @ Tengah，在可行情况下也将设有预先建造的户外餐饮区。

³ 有遮盖连廊一般设于与预购组屋项目同一侧的道路。横跨道路的高架有遮盖连廊将按个别情况提供。

附件A：关于预购组屋协调委员会

附件B：建屋局店面（包括咖啡店*）延长免租期