Woodleigh Residences is an upcoming 99-year leasehold integrated development located in District 13 and will be the first private residence to be built in Bidadari New Town. Jointly developed by Kajima Development Pte Ltd & Singapore Press Holdings Ltd, it consists of 667 residentials units with a projected T.O.P (Temporary Occupation Permit) date of 31 August 2024.
Background of Project
This eye-catching project has a lot of positives going for it. It is situated right at the doorstep of Woodleigh MRT and Woodleigh Mall. Residents also have direct access to Singapore’s first underground air-conditioned bus interchange. Woodleigh Residences is also located on top of 3 levels of commercial shops, including a supermarket, community centre, childcare, banks, medical facilities and a police post. It truly is convenience personified and the definition of integrated living.
Dubbed the jewel of the Bidadari Estate Master Plan, this comprehensive mixed-use development features both residential and commercial components while offering panoramic views of nearby Alkaff Lake, Bidari Park and the 700m Bidadari Heritage Walk.
When it comes to living spaces, Woodleigh Residences is built on Japanese design principles of craftsmanship, quality and attention to detail. Serenity and zen go hand in hand for Singapore’s first community in a garden. There are 11 blocks of 11-story residential flats that appeal to every generation and family and buyers have the option of 2, 3 or 4 bedroom units.
The modular smart living spaces are supported by Japanese-inspired amenities such as a residents-only indoor onsen, Japanese Sunken Courtyard with BBQ, tatami rooms, rain garden, engawa and even an urban farming area. For a full list of all the facilities, do check out our Youtube video walkthrough of Woodleigh Residences.
The Woodleigh Residences Fact Sheet
Property Type: Private Condominium
Tenure: 99 Years Leasehold
Address: 13 – 33 Bidadari Park Drive
TOP: 2023
Site Area: 25,440.8 sqm/ 273,847 sqft
Blocks: 11
Units: 667 units
Floors: 11
Developer: Kajima Development Pte Ltd & Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
Land tender price
The much-coveted Government Land Sales (GLS) site garnered 12 bids back in June 2017 with the winning bid coming from the joint-partnership of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Kajima Development at an eye-watering $1.132 billion. The top bid was 1.3 per cent higher than the second-highest bid – from a tie-up between Far East Organization and Sekisui House, which offered an estimated S$1.12 billion. The residential Gross Floor Area (GFA) of the development is 639,769 sq ft which is inclusive of the 7% bonus area for balcony as well. The break even price is approximately $1691 while the selling price is roughly $1944, when you take into account a 15% profit margin.
Growth areas
There are exciting upcoming plans within the Bidadari area which is a harbinger for exponential growth that you can take advantage of as a Woodleigh Residences buyer. Spanning across 93-hectare of land space, which is approximately the size of 150 soccer fields, the Bidadari estate will be bounded by Upper Serangoon Road, Bartley Road, the Sennett Estate and also Mount Vernon Road, it is one of the most sought-after estates in a city-fringe location for its convenience and connectivity.
Over the last few decades, the level of popularity, demand, and evolution of residential development in Bishan (which is also once built on top of a cemetery site) is somewhat a perfect template for what Bidadari can potentially turn into. The main vision of the Bidadari New Town is to have a community within lush greenery, Woodleigh Residences condo will incorporate its Japanese nature-centric design into the government’s master plan for Bidadari by providing green recreational spaces – such as verandas, garden courtyards, and roof gardens, to encourage outdoor activities for the community in this new township.
Residents will also be able to experience an eco-lifestyle as the estate will consist of a 10-hectare Bidadari Park and the new Alkaff Lake (taking after the name of the Arab family that constructed the Alkaff Lake Gardens back in 1929, which was closed after the Second World War).
Unique Selling Points
- Integrated Development Calling Card
Integrated developments are fast becoming a hot commodity. It can be defined as a mixed-use project that features commercial and residential elements while also connecting seamlessly to a transport hub and public space. At this time of writing there are only 14 completed integrated developments with 3 more under construction, including Woodleigh Residences. Most of them are in bustling town or neighbourhood centres with minimal greenery facing units.
In the case of The Woodleigh Residences, however, it is designed to have a horseshoe layout facing Alkaff Lake. With this arrangement, more than 50% of the units can get a view of either Alkaff Lake or Bidadari Park. Either directly or diagonally from their living room. So not only does it offer unparalleled convenience and close proximity to public transportation, it brings residents closer to nature as well.
- Abundance Of Condo Facilities
The number of condo facilities within Woodleigh Residences is highly impressive. There are also a few built with a Japanese aesthetic in mind, which you will probably not find in other condominium or apartment projects in Singapore. Other than the typical fare, such as an infinity pool, BBQ pavilions, clubhouse, relaxation decks, lush gardens, and gym, there is the Indoor Onsen – which is a Japanese-style sauna which is located just across Woodleigh Residences, linked by a sky bridge over Bidadari Park Drive.
Residents will get to unwind in the hot pool which overlooks the Alkaff Lake and lush greens surrounding it at Bidadari Park. There is also the Japanese Sunken Courtyard with a BBQ facility and courtyard gardens in some of the bigger units.
Excellent Connectivity & Easy Access To Public Transportation
Car owners will rejoice in the excellent connectivity around The Woodleigh Residences with nearby access to some of the major expressways in Singapore, such as the Pan Island Expressway (PIE), the Central Expressway (CTE) and the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE).
As mentioned earlier, The Woodleigh Residences is integrated with Woodleigh Mall, the underground bus interchange while also being a stone’s throw away from Woodleigh MRT. It is perfect for professionals who are working in the Central Business District as well as modern families who prefer to have their amenities within reach.
Top Schools Nearby
For parents with school-going children, there are a number of esteemed primary and secondary schools, junior colleges and international schools within the radius of Woodleigh Residences. Maris Stella High School and Cedar Primary School is less than 1km away from the condominium while top primary schools such as St. Andrew’s Junior School, Pei Chun Public School, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School, and St. Gabriel’s Primary School is less than 2km away.
For investors or expatriates, you will be glad to know that the Stamford American International School (SAIS) is just right opposite Woodleigh Residences condo while the Australian International School is within close proximity too. The livability of the area and availability of good schools make Woodleigh Residences highly appealing for families looking to buy or invest.
Credibility Of Developers
The consortium that developed Woodleigh Residences comprises Singapore Press Holdings Ltd (SPH), Asia’s leading media organisation and Kajima Group, a Japanese corporation that deals in real estate development, design and construction services. SPH’s sponsored real estate investment trust, SPH Reit, holds Paragon and Clementi Mall while SPH itself owns 70% of Seletar Mall and also previously developed the Sky@Eleven condo in Thomson Lane.
Kajima has long supported Singapore’s rapid industrialization in various forms and has gone on to construct commercial, industrial, institutional and residential projects encompassing all project types. They developed the 71 Robinson Road office project in the CBD as well as Bishopsgate Residences and Sui Generis condo in the Balmoral area. It also partnered with Pontiac Land in the Millenia Singapore development.
New launch comparison
There are a number of new launch projects within the vicinity of Woodleigh Residences. These include Park Colonial, The Tre Ver and Poiz Residences which are all 99-year leasehold projects. Poiz Residences was launched first in 2015, Park Colonial and The Tre Ver in 2018 followed by Woodleigh Residences in 2019. Other information including the tenure, TOP, number of units, distance to the nearest MRT and launch price are listed below.
2 Bedroom
The Woodleigh Residences start from the 2 Bedroom 1 Bath configuration of 570sqft, making it really affordable for buyers looking for 2 bedroom apartments as it is probably the most popular unit type for new launches across Singapore.
It is bigger in size compared to another nearby mixed-development development Park Colonial, which is directly opposite the project. While it loses out to The Tre Ver in this regard, its entry price of $1.17 million makes it really appealing to first time buyers looking to dip their toes into the private property market in an excellent and upcoming location. After comparing the 3 developments, The Woodleigh Residences is similar in size with Park Colonial while still being slightly cheaper. Considering that you are getting all the convenience of staying in an integrated development with direct access to rmt, bus interchange, shopping mall, hawker centre and even community centre, child care and police station, it makes for a good buy.
3 Bedroom
The Woodleigh Residences offer a variety of sizes and layouts for their 3 bedroom units but it is still significantly smaller than other new launch projects in the area. The smallest configuration is only 850 sq ft and might cramp but it is the compromise that the developers make to keep the price fair. But unfortunately, record land prices might have a part in making the psf much more expensive than the other condos in comparison.
The three bedroom layout also features several kitchen configurations. They range from the conventional enclosed ones to a verandah styled version right beside the balcony. Depending on your usage, there is always some unit type to cater to your needs. After our price analysis, The Woodleigh Residences is seen to be the most affordable option among 3 bedroom units in the area. Despite the smaller size, it still looks like a good deal for this configuration.
4 Bedroom
More commonly found in district 9, 10, 11 and the core central regions of Singapore, the private lift is a hallmark of luxury. The Woodleigh Residences is one of only a few developments that offer this option away from the city centre. Again, the size of the starting units for 4-bedders is relatively small compared to other nearby developments, which seems to be the emerging pattern here.
Perhaps it’s the Japanese-inspired, minimalist living at play here, but in generally populated heartland areas where space can easily be found in HDB flats, how willing are people going to be to pay large premiums just for a marginally better location? Are buyers willing to sacrifice a little on spatial comforts just for convenience sake? This is relatively still untested in the market and time will tell if this will pay off. As of now, you’re better off looking at the smaller units to get the full value for your money. In conclusion, The Tre Ver might be the most affordable option but it is over 1km away from the nearest MRT. In terms of convenience factor and price, The Woodleigh Residences is still the best option
Resale Project Comparison
To conduct a better analysis of Woodleigh Residences, we also look at the resale market and compare similar projects in the surrounding area that were completed within the last 10 years. They include 8@Woodleigh which was completed in 2012 and Sennett Residence which was completed in 2017. We will also compare Poiz Residences which was completed in 2019
2 Bedroom
The Woodleigh Residences’s 2 bedroom units are significantly smaller when compared to the other 2 resale projects, however the starting price is less as well. While Sennett Residence is also a stone’s throw away from the nearest MRT, Potong Pasir, it doesn’t compare to the abundance of amenities that Woodleigh Residences have while 8@Woodleigh is situated further away from the other two when it comes to access to public transportation. Poiz Residences is right beside Potong Pasir MRT and even has options for studio apartments if you’re looking for something cosier.
3 Bedroom
Once again, The Woodleigh Residences’ 3-bedder units are much smaller than the resale condos except for the ones in Poiz Residences. However, its price is nestled in between, with Sennett Residences presenting the most expensive option at just over $2 million. 8@Woodleigh’s 3 bedroom apartments is the best value for money purchase as you get to enjoy a spacious 958 sq ft while still offering the second most affordable option at only $1.6 million.
4 Bedroom
There are no 4-bedder units available at 8@Woodleigh so the comparison will only be with Sennett Residence and Poiz Residences. Woodleigh Residences trumps Sennett Residence when it comes to the size and price but the Poiz Residences offers the largest space and most expensive option. When comparing the new launch projects, it seems like developers are making a conscious effort to increase the size of their units more than before.
Exit strategies
Seeing as Woodleigh Residences is the first integrated development in a brand new estate, it will be an exciting development to watch in the coming years. The project is well located near to the city centre and offers utmost convenience in terms of transport or amenities. Buyers can capitalise on the first mover advantage for an attractive entry price.
It is suitable for both rental investment or home stay as there will be an opportunity for capital appreciation once the price is driven up by other developments that will populate Bidadari in the coming years. Judging based on just the quality of the development and developer’s track record of excellence, it seems likely that Woodleigh Residences will deliver a superior home than other new launch projects in the vicinity.
Being integrated to a large-scale mall, MRT and more, and with a bridge extending across the road to the Alkaff Lake makes The Woodleigh Residences significantly more appealing to nature lovers and modern families. Current HDB BTO residents from the surrounding Bidadari neighbourhoods might consider upgrading once they attain Minimum Occupancy Period (MOP)
It does seem that Woodleigh Residences’ smaller units are financially viable compared to the bigger units for investing purposes. For the pure investor buyer there is definite upside potential, and whether it’s a suitable choice for you depends on your stage of life, risk appetite, and targeted returns. For the own stay purchaser who wants to take advantage of the recent price cuts, now would definitely be a good time to enter.
Conclusion
Due to the existing competition, units at Woodleigh Residences have been conservatively re-priced as compared to those which were sold during the soft launch. Therefore, it may be a good time to pick out a unit there now. Still the starting prices might still be high and area size too small for everyone’s liking but it is compensated by the potential for high growth and development in the Bidadari New Town area.
When we compare it with other city fringe developments which are near to a MRT station, it makes it worthwhile. Most importantly, it is the desire of people to want to enjoy the unparalleled convenience and access when these developments are completed.
So if you are into mega integrated developments that offer sublime connectivity and convenience right at your doorstep; Japanese-inspired quality living and greenery galore, you should consider taking a plunge at The Woodleigh Residences.
Contact us
The above is the analysis for Woodleigh Residences, a mega project in district 13.For more information and advice, just contact Home Quarters by going over to www.homequarters.com.sg or send us an email at homequarterssg@gmail.com or visit our social media on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram or call K.C. Ng at 88092889. Remember, for all your real estate needs, call home quarters and start packing!
