Singapore’s tallest HDB to rise at Pearl’s Hill amid 19,600-flat BTO rollout

Pearl’s Hill 60-storey public housing first in 40 years as resale growth slows 2.9%.

Singapore will launch a major wave of public and private housing in 2026 including the tallest public housing project in the country with Pearl’s Hill development at Outram, according to Minister Chee Hong Tat during the Committee of Supply debate on 4 March.

Enabled by revised aviation height restrictions under the International Civil Aviation Organization, this 60-storey block can provide approximately 50% more flats than a 40-storey block and also marks the first public housing in the area in 40 years.

The Housing & Development Board (HDB) will also introduce around 19,600 BTO flats in 2026, including more than 4,000 Shorter Waiting Time flats that can be collected in under three years.

The supply of 2-room Flexi flats will increase by nearly 50% from 2026 to 2028 whilst on the private side, developers are expected to launch roughly 12,000 units, including Executive Condominiums.

First-Timer BTO application rates for larger flats have fallen from about 7 applicants per available flat in 2020 to fewer than 1 applicant per flat in the latest exercise whilst resale flat price growth has slowed to 2.9% in 2025 from 12.7% in 2021, with fourth quarter 2025 prices flat and early 2026 prices down 0.1%.

In Toa Payoh, a 1,600-unit BTO will be launched near Caldecott MRT, including the first Community Care Apartments (CCA) in the estate.

Over the next decade, more than 10,000 additional homes will be built across Toa Payoh West and Mount Pleasant, combining public and private housing with community amenities.

These developments are linked to the Toa Payoh Integrated Development (TPID) Sports and Lifestyle Hub, expected by 2030.

Minister Chee also outlined plans to pilot the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS) in the early 2030s, with a scale-up in the late 2030s, providing a long-term mechanism for estate renewal and asset recycling.

The Built Environment sector will receive renewed focus on productivity through AI, robotics, and 3D printing, alongside regulatory burden reduction whilst a new Action Team will guide adoption of productive technologies, improve procurement and contracting, and support system-level synergies.

Mega-projects tied to these efforts include Changi Airport Terminal 5, Tuas Port, and rail expansion.

The government is studying co-funding for upgrading older private estates, focusing on safety and liveability.

Executive Condominium prices remain 20% to 30% below comparable private condominiums, with eligibility and pricing policies under review.

Minister Chee emphasised that the government will continue monitoring housing markets, expanding options for seniors, singles, and lower-income households, and ensuring public and private supply meets evolving needs.