HDB Is Finally Giving Our Oldest Town A Revamp – With New BTOs And Quirky Street Furniture

But don’t worry, Toa Payoh will retain its character and vibrancy

As one of the nine towns identified for renewal under the Housing Board’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme, Toa Payoh will witness a range of projects over the next 5 to 10 years.

The exhibition of renewal plans for Toa Payoh was launched at the HDB Hub Atrium on Saturday 22nd April by Defence Minister and Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Dr Ng Eng Hen, and will be held until 7th May.

Source: Greenery to be added to HDB estates

For The Older Residents

As a mature town, Toa Payoh has a high proportion of elderly residents, calling for measures to make the estate more senior-friendly. As such, ramps and handrails will be installed and paving will be levelled.

Source: Silver zones by Land Transport Authority

Toa Payoh Lorong 5 and Lorong 8/8A have also been designated as Silver zones, limiting vehicle speed and reminding pedestrians to exercise road safety when crossing.
 

Brand New Housing Estates

Source: Existing apartments at Toa Payoh Rise (Beside Caldecott MRT station)

In addition to the 37,000 flats in Toa Payoh, a few thousand new flats will be built at two locations. The first is a 10ha site next to the Caldecott MRT station on the Circle Line and the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line.

Source: Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery

The second is a 4ha area in Toa Payoh East, next to the Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery. Given their central location, property analyst Ong Kah Seng expects the two new housing developments to be much sought-after.

Source: Heritage corner in Toa Payoh town centre

A Charming Pioneer Town

Despite the new developments, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) affirmed that the charm and heritage of the mature town will be preserved.

Source: The iconic dragon playground

As the first town built by the HDB in 1964, Toa Payoh embodies snippets of Singapore’s heritage, in particular through the iconic dragon playground in Toa Payoh Lorong 6. Along with other symbols, the 38-year old playground may be replicated in quirky street furniture such as park benches.

Source: Toa Payoh town centre

Other upgrades to the town includes two new parks, a heritage corner in the town centre and an open plaza. More sheltered pedestrian walkways and cycling paths will be built, alongside an improvement of the 4km ring road around Toa Payoh central.

Source: Toa Payoh ring road

The HDB engaged about 100 residents and grassroots leaders in June 2015 in developing these plans.

Dr Ng said yesterday: “Over 50 years of continuous improvement, Toa Payoh has been transformed into a modern, vibrant town with much sought-after flats. The ROH programme will make Toa Payoh… even better.”