How will the Housing and Development Board’s latest build‑to‑order (BTO) programme reshape Singapore’s public housing landscape in 2026?
The agency has outlined plans to launch about 19,600 BTO flats across three sales exercises in February, June and October 2026, a pipeline calibrated to be broadly comparable to the 19,723 units released in 2025 and situated within a wider target of about 55,000 flats to be offered between 2025 and 2027. This sustained supply is positioned as a key instrument to keep new public housing accessible and affordable, while also alleviating structural demand pressures in the HDB resale market. It is also part of a strong supply strategy that is expected to help moderate resale flat prices over the medium term.
Within the 2026 rollout, more than 4,000 flats are being configured as shorter‑waiting‑time units, with expected completion periods of under three years. This represents an estimated 20 per cent of annual flat supply based on recent allocation patterns. Application rates for BTO flats have already eased significantly, with median application ratios for 3-room and larger flats falling to between 1.1 and 1.9 applicants per unit by 2025, reflecting how increased supply is helping more buyers secure a home on their first try.
Together with a further 4,000 such units targeted for 2027, the combined 8,000 shorter‑waiting‑time flats are roughly equivalent in scale to the entire Bidadari estate, indicating a substantial policy commitment to serve households that require faster delivery timelines.
Geographically, the 2026 launches will span both mature and non‑mature towns, including Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, Sembawang, Toa Payoh, Tampines, Woodlands and Yishun, thereby accommodating diverse locational preferences and life‑cycle housing needs. This 10-minute neighborhood concept, already adopted in new mixed-use developments, prioritizes pedestrian-friendly environments and accessible amenities to enhance liveability for residents.
The February 2026 exercise alone is expected to comprise around 4,600 units across Bukit Merah, Sembawang, Tampines and Toa Payoh, and the distribution of sites is aligned with an ongoing strategy of rejuvenating older estates while continuing the development trajectory of newer towns.
From a product segmentation perspective, the 2026 BTO supply will include a “good mix” of Standard, Plus and Prime flats**, each governed by distinct subsidy levels and resale conditions** intended to balance affordability, access to central or high‑amenity locations, and the maintenance of long‑term equity in the public housing system.
Standard flats will remain the most budget‑oriented category with typical five‑year minimum occupation periods, while Plus and Prime units in more attractive or central locations will be subject to tighter resale restrictions and, in the case of Prime flats, subsidy clawback mechanisms.
These measures collectively support more sustainable price formation in both primary and resale HDB markets.
