The whole estate at Woodlands is expected to be transformed by HDB’s Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) plan, which may add over 10,000 new homes such as Norwood Grand.

Minister of National Development Lawrence Wong made the two residential developments, which will be located in Woodlands North Coast and Woodlands Central.

There will be commercial establishments and the Woodlands Central houses will be close to the Woodlands MRT station. It is currently unknown to the authorities whether they will be public or private facilities. In the meantime, the natural mountainous topography of the Woodlands North Coast public housing development will provide residents with a “housing-in-the-woods” experience with views of Admiralty Park and the Straits of Johor.

Woodlands, the northern regional hub of the Republic, will undergo a complete makeover in the next five to ten years. Still to be finalised is the budget.

For Singaporeans, the ROH scheme seeks to beautify heartlands. Part of HDB’s third batch, which also comprises Pasir Ris and Toa Payoh, Woodlands is expected to see the biggest changes.

Two land parcels make up this: Woodlands North Coast, a 70-hectare region between Republic Polytechnic and Woodlands Waterfront; and retail centre Woodlands Central, a 30-hectare area surrounding Woodlands MRT and Causeway Point with a new town plaza.

The first such cluster in the northern area, a business park is planned for the second parcel at Woodlands North Coast with space designated for small and medium-sized firms.

For locals, the waterfront makeover also includes new paths and a nature walk.

According to earlier statements made by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, after the Woodlands Regional Centre is transformed, it may potentially provide up to 100,000 employment.

Second-tier commercial zones are called regional centres. Two more are the Tampines Regional Centre and Jurong Lake District. Fourth such hub is planned to be Seletar.

Woodlands Regional Transformation Six “Star Attractions”

New commercial centre Woodlands Regional Centre, particularly for those with ties to Malaysia and ASEAN;
A planned 1.9 km community connection known as WoodsVista Gallery will link Woodlands Central to the waterfront with specific bike and pedestrian routes;
Woodlands Central and Woodlands seafront will be connected by a new 1.9 km picturesque community connection called WoodsVista Gallery.
Enhancing the current Woodlands Town Garden, a historical nook, kids’ play area, and a new boardwalk will be added. It will be called Marsiling Park when finished;
Upgrades and expansions to the current Woodlands Town Garden will create a new “Discovery Playground.”
A planned integrated medical facility known as the Woodlands Health Campus. This will comprise a new community hospital, acute care hospital, and nursing home that will operate in stages starting in 2022;
and a new community centre named the Community Nexus next to the Admiralty MRT station. It would have amenities like a medical facility, nursery and eldercare services, a hawker centre, eating and shopping areas and senior citizen homes.
Nestled near to the Admiralty MRT, the Community Nexus will function as a one-stop shop for amenities catering to all age groups.
An existing 4.2km park connection along the North-South MRT line viaduct will be upgraded into a Social Corridor along which, among other amenities, community gardens, pavilions, and rest areas will be added.

‘Social Corridor’ will be the name of the park link that currently runs from east to west of Woodlands along the North-South MRT line viaduct. PHOTO: HDB Over the next four years, the town will undergo renovations and new commuting choices. HDB’s transformation comes after those.

Of these, three new MRT stations in Woodlands by 2019 will be a part of the Thomson-East Coast Line, which will also be linked to the future cross-border MRT system that would connect Woodlands to Johor.

2026 is also probably when the 21.5-kilometer North-South Motorway, which connects Woodlands to the city, will be completed. Authorities also revealed a facelift for the Woodlands Checkpoint last month.