More Homes for New Needs and Aspirations
Providing inclusive and accessible homes for all continues to be central to Singapore’s housing goals. We will need more land to build homes to cater for demographic changes and growing aspirations. In addition, we need to balance having enough homes with safeguarding sufficient land to meet unforeseen needs of the future.
Last updated 25 May 2026
We will need more land to build homes to cater for demographic changes and growing aspirations. In addition, we need to balance having enough homes with safeguarding sufficient land to meet unforeseen needs of the future.
Why does Singapore need more housing?
Even if our population remains unchanged in the future, more housing will be needed, if the following trends continue:
Smaller households due to smaller families, singles seeking out their own homes and empty nesters.
Young couples’ preferences for bigger flats.
Our living spaces and environment must also cater to other future trends, such as an ageing population, flexible working arrangements, e-commerce, smart technologies and climate change
Developing sensitively for the future
New areas will be built while keeping in mind existing greenery and heritage as well as future needs.
As sites with existing uses get phased out, we will prioritise these brownfield areas for redevelopment including for new housing. Upcoming opportunities include the Greater Southern Waterfront when the port moves out, and Paya Lebar Air Base when the air base moves out. When redeveloping, we will consider the heritage significance of these sites.
But the scarcity of land in Singapore means there will also be a need to build on undeveloped sites (greenfield). When there is a need to do so, we will develop sensitively in areas with significant greenery.
Increasing homes in convenient locations
More homes will be built in and around the city as well as closer to key amenities such as major transport and job nodes.
More homes in and around the city
Residents can enjoy amenities and recreation within the city.
Along the city fringe
Kampong Bugis
More areas around the city will be opened up for homes. These residential precincts will connect seamlessly to key public transport nodes for quick commutes to the city.
For instance, the site of Singapore's port operations today will be transformed into a flexible mixed-use area for urban living known as the Greater Southern Waterfront. Extending from Pasir Panjang to Marina East, it will offer a continuous waterfront promenade for public enjoyment and easy access to the hilltops of the Southern Ridges and the nearby Central Business District.
Right in the city
River Peaks I & II at Rochor © HDB
More homes will be built to enable people to be closer to all the lifestyle amenities and recreation in the city.
These include the areas of Marina South, Marina East and Straits View, which will support the seamless growth of the city as part of the Greater Southern Waterfront. Capitalising on the key assets — waterbodies and greenery — the area is being developed as an attractive live-work-play environment that is well served by efficient transport amenities.
More homes close to key nodes
Beyond the city, more homes will be built close to MRT stations, amenities and job nodes to offer convenience and reduce travelling time.
Close to MRT stations
UrbanVille @ Woodlands© HDB
Some examples include UrbanVille @ Woodlands located near Woodlands MRT Station, and the future Bayshore district, which will be a car-lite town next to Bayshore MRT Station.
Close to amenities
Heart of Yew Tee © MKPL Architects
We will plan for key amenities to be convenient and accessible to homes. The Heart of Yew Tee integrates senior-friendly housing with facilities such as a polyclinic, kidney dialysis centre, community club, retail shops and a hawker centre, and serves as a hub for the surrounding neighbourhood.
Close to future job nodes
One of the winning entries from the Paya Lebar Air Base Ideas Competition. © MIX Design Studio, Beijing
When Paya Lebar Air Base moves out, this area is envisioned to be a highly liveable mixed-use future town. It will retain some of the former buildings and parts of the runway to preserve the site’s distinct heritage and identity, while providing new homes and job opportunities.
Diversifying housing types for different lifestyles
A wider variety of residential designs will be developed to cater to a wider variety of households.
Choices in housing types, home layouts and flat types will be offered to cater to households of different sizes and needs. They will also be adaptable to accommodate changes in lifestyles and support work from home.
Flexible flats
Homes can be designed with more open floor plans so owners can configure the spaces according to their needs. Currently, columns in new flats are pushed to the edges where feasible, giving home owners more flexibility in reconfiguring their home layout. For future flats, we can explore other layouts that support different lifestyles and working from home.
Senior-Friendly Homes
The housing needs of seniors will be supported in a variety of ways. They can choose to stay on their own with the help of senior-friendly fittings and nearby community-based services.
© HDB
We have also rolled out more flexible housing types such as two-room flexi flats that allow seniors to adapt them should they require a caregiver to live with them. To cater to the diverse needs and preferences of seniors, we are partnering the private sector too. We will be launching a site for sale later this year to develop a private assisted living development at Parry Avenue.
Assisted Living for Seniors
A new public housing concept we are exploring for seniors is the Community Care Apartments that integrate senior-friendly design features with customisable care services, such as 24-hour emergency response and basic health checks to support independent ageing-in-place. There will also be communal spaces on each level for seniors to catch up with their neighbours or participate in programmes organised by the community manager.
The first such public assisted living development for seniors will be the Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok which will also offer convenient access to a hawker centre, neighbourhood centre, community garden, shopping mall and polyclinic.
Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok © HDB