Fernvale Plains BTO Review: HDBs right next to Kupang LRT Station

Before the 1990s, the entire Sengkang area, including Fernvale, was historically characterised by rubber, pepper, and pineapple plantations, as well as vegetable and pig farms. The name “Sengkang” itself, meaning “prosperous harbour” in Chinese, references its past as a fishing port known as Kangkar (”foot of the port”) along the Sungei Serangoon (Serangoon River).

Kupang’s History

The area where Fernvale and Kupang now stand was largely undeveloped and rural, with the closest public housing being the Punggol Rural Centre further along Punggol Road.

Sengkang New Town

Sengkang was earmarked for development in the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) 1991 Concept Plan. In 1994, HDB began conceptualising the new town, eventually carving it up into seven subzones, including Fernvale.

The town was themed the ‘Town of the Seafarer’ to reflect its maritime history. The Fernvale neighbourhood was assigned a sub-theme reflecting the sprawling plantations and greenery that once covered the area, which inspired its name, a combination of “fern” (greenery) and “vale” (valley/low-lying land).

Large-scale HDB residential construction began in the area in the late 1990s, with the first public apartments in Sengkang (Rivervale) completed in 1997. Fernvale’s first estates followed shortly after in the early 2000s.

Kupang LRT Station

The Kupang station, which is immediately next to the Fernvale Plains BTO site, was one of the last stations to open on the Sengkang LRT line.

On June 27, 2015, Kupang Station (SW3) opened for passenger service. It was intentionally kept “mothballed” after its initial construction until the surrounding residential developments were ready for occupation. Its opening made the Sengkang LRT system fully operational and was specifically timed to cater to the travel needs of residents moving into the new housing estates in the Fernvale area (Sengkang West).

• Address: Fernvale Drive, Fernvale Link, and Fernvale Street
• Total Units: 1,037
• Unit Types: 2-Room Flexi, 4-Room, 5-Room (830 units), Community Care Apartments (207 units)
• Wait Time: 2 Years 8 Months
• Category: Standard

The Fernvale Plains Build-To-Order (BTO) site in Sengkang, bounded by Fernvale Drive, Fernvale Link, and Fernvale Street, offers a mix of advantages and drawbacks for potential homeowners.

Prices

• Community Care Apartment: $59,000 - $122,000
• 2-Room: $162,000 - $244,000
• 4-Room: $344,000 - $472,000
• 5-Room: $466,000 - $617,000

Shorter Waiting Time (SWT)

Fernvale Plains is classified as a Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) flat project, with an estimated waiting time of less than 3 years (around 32 months). This is significantly shorter than the typical BTO waiting period, allowing buyers to move in sooner.

Transport

Kupang LRT Station

The Fernvale Plains BTO site is located right next to the Kupang LRT Station (SW3), providing quick access to the entire Sengkang LRT network.

The LRT connects directly to the Sengkang MRT Station (NE16) and the integrated bus interchange, offering seamless access to the North-East Line (NEL) for commutes to the city.

Bus Services

The Fernvale Plains BTO site, located near Fernvale Drive, Fernvale Link, and Fernvale Street, is primarily served by bus stops along the surrounding major roads, particularly Sengkang West Avenue.

Here are the key bus services that operate in the vicinity, connecting residents to the Sengkang Town Centre, other parts of Sengkang, and beyond:

Driving

Its location offers convenient access to the Tampines Expressway (TPE).

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Community Care Apartments

A notable part of the project’s history is its inclusion of a significant number of Community Care Apartments (CCA), making it one of the pioneering sites in Singapore to integrate assisted living public housing for seniors into a general HDB precinct. The project is being built next to a planned future nursing home.

What are Community Care Apartments? Community Care Apartments (CCAs) are a new housing concept in Singapore designed to support seniors in ageing independently within a community setting, while ensuring their future care needs can be met.

The concept is a joint offering by the Ministry of National Development (MND), the Ministry of Health (MOH), and the Housing & Development Board (HDB).

Each CCA unit is a compact flat (approx.32-35 sqm) with an open layout and senior-friendly, ready-to-move-in features. The flats come with built-in wardrobes, cabinets, a furnished kitchen, wide wheelchair-friendly doors, and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with grab bars and slip-resistant flooring.

Seniors must be aged 65 and above to apply and can select a shorter lease (from 15 to 35 years in 5-year increments) as long as it covers all applicants until the age of 95. The flats cannot be resold or rented out on the open market.

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Primary Schools

The Fernvale Plains BTO site, located near Kupang LRT Station (SW3), is situated in a well-developed HDB estate with several primary schools in the immediate vicinity, making it a desirable location for families with young children.

Based on proximity (typically within the crucial 1km distance for Primary 1 registration), the following are the nearest primary schools:

• Sengkang Green Primary School
• Fern Green Primary School
• Springdale Primary School
• Anchor Green Primary School
• Fernvale Primary School
• Nan Chiau Primary School (Highly Popular School)

While slightly further, Nan Chiau is a renowned school and is a major consideration for parents in Sengkang.

Note on P1 Registration: The 1km radius is the most significant factor for Phase 2C of the Primary 1 registration exercise, which gives children residing within this zone a higher chance of admission to an oversubscribed school. The Fernvale Plains BTO is particularly well-served, with at least four schools typically falling within this distance.

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Food

The Fernvale Plains BTO site, being near the Kupang LRT Station (SW3), is served by two major food hubs within excellent walking distance, offering residents a wide variety of dining, retail, and Halal food options.

Fernvale Hawker Centre & Market (Integrated with Fernvale Community Club) is the most important food hub for Fernvale Plains residents, as it is a modern, clean facility integrated with the community club. Located on the 3rd floor of the nearby Fernvale Community Club on Sengkang West Ave, this is the primary local food source, featuring a good mix of heritage and contemporary stalls.

Otherwise, you’ll have to take a short walk to The Seletar Mall for food.

Halal Food

At Fernvale Hawker Centre (Fernvale CC, t)he hawker centre has a designated section with confirmed Halal stalls:

• Saudagar Penyek: (Muslim-Owned) Specialising in Ayam Penyek (smashed fried chicken) and other Indonesian dishes.
• Umi’s Spices: (Muslim-Owned) Offers Malay/Indonesian cuisine like Nasi Padang and Mee Bakso.
• Mohamed Danish Prata Paradise: (Muslim-Owned) Popular for Prata, Murtabak, and Indian Rojak.
• Munchi Pancakes: (Halal-Certified) Pancakes and traditional Min Jiang Kueh.
• Bedok One Hokkien Mee/Prawn Mee: (Halal-Certified) Offers a Halal version of the local noodle favorite.

Near Kupang LRT Station neighbourhood coffee shops, there are Halal food establishments in the surrounding HDB blocks:

• Oma Muslimah Kitchen: (Halal) Located in a food court at a nearby HDB block (e.g., Blk 473 Fernvale Link/Street area), offering Muslim food.
• Mohamed Javed Indian Muslim Food: (Muslim-Owned) Often located in a coffee shop nearby, specialising in Prata and Indian Muslim dishes.
• Fatty Bom Bom Sizzle: (Halal-Certified) Western and Sizzling Plate food, often found in a nearby coffee shop (e.g., Blk 455 Sengkang West Ave).

At The Seletar Mal, there are nlumerous Halal-certified chain restaurants offer familiar fare:

• Eighteen Chefs
• Delibowl (Chinese/Sichuan cuisine)
• The Soup Spoon / The Soup Spoon Union
• Fast Food Chains (McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King)
• Polar Puffs & Cakes and other certified bakeries.

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