SINGAPORE: Residents who have moved into their new homes at Tengah can buy food and daily necessities from a mobile grocery truck and vending machines while facilities are being built, the Housing Board (HDB) said on Wednesday (Dec 13).
These interim measures were recently introduced in Singapore’s newest town, as amenities such as a supermarket, food court and shops are only expected to be ready around the second quarter of next year.
Residents CNA spoke to generally welcomed the interim amenities, although some reported teething issues with the vending machines.
Tengah is estimated to provide about 42,000 new homes over a land area of 700ha when fully developed – about the size of Bishan town.
Of its five housing districts, Plantation District is the first to be developed, with eight Build-to-Order (BTO) projects launched. Since August, residents have started collecting keys for the first three projects – Plantation Acres, Plantation Grange and Plantation Village.
HDB said that as of Dec 5, about 2,019 households – more than half of the 3,753 units in the three housing projects – have collected their keys.
However in a new town like Tengah, the amenities and major transport facilities will take some time to build up, unlike BTO developments which are built within existing HDB towns, said Dr Johnny Wong, HDB deputy CEO (Building).
The district’s Plantation Plaza Neighbourhood Centre, which is a five to 10-minute walk from Plantation Grange and Plantation Acres, will open around the second quarter of next year. Amenities include a supermarket, food court, F&B outlets, a clinic, shops and enrichment centres.