{"id":3352,"date":"2024-04-19T15:28:38","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T07:28:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lentorcollection.sg\/?p=4326"},"modified":"2024-04-19T15:28:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T07:28:38","slug":"ura-awards-zion-road-upper-thomson-sites-to-sole-bidders-at-lower-than-expected-offers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thejalantembusu.sg\/emeraldofkatong\/ura-awards-zion-road-upper-thomson-sites-to-sole-bidders-at-lower-than-expected-offers\/","title":{"rendered":"URA awards Zion Road, Upper Thomson sites to sole bidders at lower-than-expected offers"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u00a0The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA<\/a>) has awarded the sole bidders for the large sites on Zion Road<\/a>\u00a0and Upper Thomson Road<\/a>, following the closure of tenders on April 4, where single bids were submitted at prices lower than expected.<\/p>\n Zion Road’s Parcel A was secured by a collaboration between City Developments Limited (CDL) and Mitsui Fudosan at a bid of S$1.1 billion, equivalent to S$1,202 per square foot (psf) of gross floor area. This site marks the government’s inaugural project for long-stay serviced apartments, aimed at addressing the housing rent surge in recent years due to supply constraints.<\/p>\n On the other hand, the Upper Thomson Road’s Parcel B was won by a joint venture between GuocoLand and Hong Leong Group for S$779.6 million, or S$905 psf of gross floor area. Positioned near the emerging Lentor Hills precinct<\/a>, where private housing projects are burgeoning, this parcel aligns with ongoing developments in the area.<\/p>\n Initially, market observers speculated that the Zion Road<\/a> site might not be awarded, considering the single bid was approximately 30% lower than recent comparable sales nearby. In February, a similar scenario unfolded when a bid for a Marina South area parcel was rejected for being deemed “too low” by the URA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tricia Song from CBRE noted that the acceptance of the lower-than-expected bid for the Zion Road<\/a> plot signifies an acknowledgment of shifting market dynamics over the past few years. Factors such as increased Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD<\/a>), rising construction costs, and the introduction of a new asset class, the long-stay serviced apartment component, influenced the decision.<\/p>\n Wong Xian Yang from Cushman & Wakefield highlighted the delicate balance between optimizing land sales proceeds and stimulating housing supply to stabilize private home prices, which the tender outcome reflects.<\/p>\n With sentiment among developers showing signs of caution due to slowing demand and policy changes, the government’s move to push forward with these developments signals a commitment to sustaining market activity. Alan Cheong from Savills Singapore cautioned against not awarding tenders, as it could potentially constrain future supply and lead to price escalations.<\/p>\n Given the significant size of these sites and the current economic landscape, the government’s decision to kick-start development, particularly of the new serviced apartment pilot, underscores strategic considerations for future urban planning.<\/p>\n Moving forward, developers have a five-year timeline to sell 90% of units in their projects or face hefty ABSD payments on the land price. This period offers both challenges and opportunities for developers to navigate market conditions while meeting regulatory requirements.<\/p>\n