Last evening, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his annual National Day Rally, sharing the Government’s strategies and initiatives for the years ahead.
Among the many topics he touched on, a key update that PM Wong provided pertained to housing and the Government’s plans to continually rejuvenate and refresh existing land, as well as reimagine new uses for it.
In particular, PM Wong highlighted plans for the northern region of Singapore, in the estates of Woodlands, Kranji, and Sembawang, and how Singaporeans will benefit from these transformation plans.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the key housing announcements from NDR 2025:
14,000 new homes in new Kranji housing estate
Last year, it was announced that the iconic Singapore Turf Club in Kranji, long known as the home of horse racing, would close by March 2027 to make way for housing and other developments.
At this year’s Rally, PM Wong shared more details on what’s next for the area. Describing it as a “rare opportunity for a major transformation,” he revealed that Kranji will see over 14,000 new homes built, more than Bidadari, forming a brand-new housing estate in the north.
Image credit: Chee Hong Tat
One of the key features of the new housing estate is the integration of nature with urban living. Homes will be surrounded by lush greenery and complemented by the area’s natural assets, including the upcoming Mandai mangrove and mudflat nature park, the Rail Corridor, and the Sungei Mandai waterway which will run through the estate.
The development will also come with ample amenities to serve residents, such as a new neighbourhood centre built around the existing Kranji MRT station. Nearby, a new MRT interchange station, Sungei Kadut, will connect the North-South and Downtown Lines for added convenience.
Image credit: URA Draft Master Plan 2025
The new Kranji housing estate will take about 10 years to complete, so it’ll be a while before we see it appear in a BTO launch. Still, the site has “all the right ingredients—ample space, good connectivity and nature at its doorstep”—making it an exciting prospect for a future township.
Redevelopment of Sembawang: From shipyards to waterfront living
Sembawang is also set for a major transformation. A brand-new Sembawang North township will be created from the existing shipyard area, with plans for around 10,000 new homes across a 53-hectare site, comprising both public and private housing.
In his speech, PM Wong noted that the area is currently home to a dry dock, once the world’s largest when it opened in 1971. The site itself is massive, about three times the size of Ang Mo Kio Town Centre, offering plenty of potential for creative reuse and reinvention.
Image credit: Singapore Institute of Planners
Apart from the waterfront homes that will be built, the Government will also be exploring how the area can be redeveloped into a waterfront lifestyle destination, perhaps similar to what it is currently aiming to do with the Greater Southern Waterfront and Tanjong Rhu. Several ideas are being mooted for the area, such as community spaces for concerts, sports, and performances, and of course, dining, shopping, and recreation.
Just like Kranji, there will be new community infrastructure to support residents’ everyday needs. Features such as a new neighbourhood centre, a whole suite of amenities, and even an expansive 1-hectare park known as “Community Avenue,” which has been set aside for recreational facilities, are just some of the many exciting things being planned for the area.
Transformation of Woodlands: Singapore’s ‘Northern Gateway’
PM Wong also provided updates on Woodlands North, which has undergone significant changes recently, chief among them the establishment of the new RTS Link with Malaysia. When fully completed and launched, the RTS will provide a new rail connection between Singapore and Malaysia, seamlessly linked to the Woodlands North MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line.
The new Woodlands North township will also include housing developments. In fact, if you have been keeping tabs on past BTO launches, you’d know that several projects have already been released in the vicinity of the RTS station, such as Woodlands North Grove and Woodlands North Verge.
Image credit: Chee Hong Tat
In his NDR speech, PM Wong announced that 2 new housing precincts will be built in the region: the first is a new “Housing by the Woods” 4,000-unit HDB estate next to Admiralty Park, and the second will feature homes along the Woodlands waterfront.
The existing Woodlands Checkpoint will also be expanded to become 5 times larger than the current complex, to handle the anticipated surge in cross-border travel. In addition, land in the vicinity will be reclaimed for flexible industrial spaces as well as commercial developments.
National Day Rally 2025 updates: Rejuvenation & revitalisation of the North
Overall, the initiatives announced for Northern Singapore are exciting. We’ve already seen redevelopment plans for other regions of Singapore in the South, East, and West, so it is encouraging to know the North has not been forgotten. Integrating urban living with natural features and landmarks appears to be a central theme for the Government, and we can expect to see more of such elements in the long run.
Citing Punggol as an example of how a new town can grow into a thriving and attractive community, PM Wong said that the Government envisions Kranji, Sembawang, and Woodlands developing in the same way, ensuring that “every part of Singapore shines, each with its own character, and a place we can all be proud to call home.”
Read more of our other articles here:
- Oct 2025 BTO launch: 9,100 flats in 8 towns
- Is Whampoa West’s block 34 Singapore’s longest HDB corridor?
- $75K Pinnacle@Duxton 4-room renovation
Cover image adapted from: Chee Hong Tat, Singapore Institute of Planners
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