Toa Payoh West Plans More Than 6,000 Homes, New Mall and First Community Care Apartments

A new centre around Caldecott MRT

More than 6,000 homes are planned for Toa Payoh West over the coming decade, beginning with a November 2026 housing launch that will include the town's first 260 Community Care Apartments. A shopping mall, a 1.2-hectare wellness park and a possible school are part of plans to concentrate new facilities around Caldecott MRT station.

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat unveiled the master plan on October 31, 2026, at HDB Hub. The Housing and Development Board (HDB) says the neighbourhood will contain mostly public housing, alongside some private homes, and create a second centre of activity to complement Toa Payoh Central.

The first project, Toa Payoh Hillside, will have about 1,600 flats in five blocks ranging from 31 to 43 storeys. Its combination of smaller flats, family homes, public rental housing and apartments with care services places different housing needs within the same development.

For residents, the changes would bring groceries, dining, recreation and support for older people closer to their homes. For existing households, the prospect of more facilities comes alongside concern about another stretch of construction in a town already undergoing renewal.

What the first housing project will contain

Toa Payoh Hillside will be offered in the November 2026 Build-to-Order (BTO) sales exercise. BTO is HDB's system through which eligible applicants apply for flats in announced public housing projects. The sales launch is the application stage, rather than the date residents can move in.

The planned mix is 590 two-room Flexi flats, 580 four-room flats, about 230 public rental flats and 260 Community Care Apartments. Together, those figures total about 1,660 homes, consistent with the project's description as offering about 1,600 flats.

The 260 care apartments account for roughly 16 per cent of that listed total, while rental flats make up about 14 per cent. Those shares show how much of the first development is being set aside for supported living and public rental housing alongside other flats.

Chee, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Toa Payoh West-Thomson ward, described the housing mix as deliberate. Explaining why different groups would live within the same project, he said:

We want our HDB towns to remain inclusive communities, where Singaporeans of different ages and backgrounds can live alongside one another.

A supermarket, shops and a food court are planned within the development. Playgrounds, fitness areas, community gardens and rooftop terraces will provide spaces for residents to spend time outdoors without leaving the neighbourhood.

Care apartments bring support closer to home

The Community Care Apartments will be the first in Toa Payoh. They combine housing designed for older residents with care and social support, allowing people to maintain an independent household while having access to help when needed.

HDB says the minimum application age will fall from 65 to 55 from the November 2026 BTO exercise. July has also been given as the effective date of the age reduction. Toa Payoh Hillside is identified as the first launch of these apartments after the change.

Chee, explaining the reason for widening eligibility, said the change would:

open up housing and care options to more seniors and give them more time to plan ahead

The apartment block will connect directly to an Active Ageing Centre, a Residents' Network Centre and a precinct pavilion. A sheltered route will lead to Caldecott MRT station, helping residents reach public transport while protected from rain and sun.

Coloured signs will help residents find their way, while grab bars along common corridors will provide support when walking. These are practical features for people whose balance, mobility or confidence changes with age.

Service fees for Community Care Apartments are also set to fall by between 18 and 75 per cent. The reduction will affect recurring costs associated with this housing model, alongside the broader change allowing people to consider it from a younger age.

A mall and a school under study

A development combining homes with a shopping mall will anchor the new cluster around Caldecott MRT. Chee described the planned mall as similar in scale to Woodleigh Mall in Bidadari, giving residents a reference for the size being considered.

A plaza in front of the development will provide space for gathering and exercise and connect it to the wellness park. Shopping, homes and recreation would therefore be linked through a shared public space, rather than planned as isolated destinations.

A school is being studied to serve anticipated demand from families moving into the area. HDB has not specified the school type. Families considering the neighbourhood therefore have a proposal to follow, rather than a confirmed school opening to plan around.

Sophia Shalini, 25, who secured a flat at Toa Payoh Ascent in the July 2025 BTO exercise, said she and her partner initially worried about the area's limited amenities. Describing their first visit, she said:

At that point, there seemed to be no proper supermarket,

The plans for a mall and park reassured her. Her response points to a concrete concern for households moving into a developing neighbourhood: whether everyday services will be convenient when they begin living there.

A park for exercise and quieter visits

The planned wellness park will cover 1.2 hectares, equivalent to 12,000 square metres. Its facilities are intended to serve children, adults and older residents, with both active and quieter areas.

Nature themed playgrounds will cater to children. A running track and fitness stations will provide exercise space, including equipment intended to help older people maintain strength, mobility and balance.

A butterfly trail, a sensory area and rain gardens will offer quieter places to visit. Rain gardens are planted areas that collect and absorb rainwater, combining greenery with a practical role in managing runoff.

The plaza connection will place the park beside the new development's shops and homes. Residents could combine a shopping trip with a walk or exercise session, making the green space part of everyday journeys.

How Hillside Gardens will take shape

HDB's design theme for Toa Payoh West is Hillside Gardens, drawing on the area's uneven terrain. A network called Central Green Valley will run through the neighbourhood, linking parks and smaller green spaces with homes, Caldecott MRT and the new mall.

New buildings will step down in height towards the valley. Lower buildings and open spaces will sit among taller residential blocks, creating a varied arrangement around the central greenery.

The approach connects the housing layout with the location of shared outdoor spaces. Instead of treating parks as separate patches between developments, the plan uses a continuous green route to connect destinations residents will use.

Toa Payoh West resident Lim Yit Keong, 73, lives beside the site designated for Toa Payoh Hillside. Explaining what he hoped the new neighbourhood would provide, he said:

The new amenities will make shopping and dining more convenient, and I hope the facilities at the new green spaces will cater to both young and old.

Walking routes link the new and existing town

A landscaped public corridor 15 metres wide will connect Caldecott MRT station with Lorong 1 Toa Payoh. Trees will provide shade, while public seating will give people places to rest along the route.

The corridor is planned as a route without cars, helping connect the new neighbourhood with the rest of Toa Payoh. Its combination of shade and seating will be useful to residents who walk slowly or need breaks during a journey.

Caldecott MRT serves the Circle and Thomson-East Coast Lines. The wider town also has Toa Payoh MRT station and its bus interchange, giving residents several public transport connections.

The North-South Corridor is expected to create opportunities for improved walking and cycling routes and more greenery at street level. Together with the local paths, these changes would provide connections beyond the boundaries of individual housing projects.

Residents weigh convenience against construction

Mr Ng, 53, who has lived in Toa Payoh for about 14 years and gave only his surname, welcomed the planned facilities but expressed concern about further works. He said residents had already been dealing with construction in and around the town.

Describing his concern about the coming development, he said:

I'm a bit worried about the construction noise,

He also described experiencing construction fatigue, while looking forward to the integrated facilities and library. His response captures the immediate tradeoff for established residents: new services are attractive, but building them adds disruption before the benefits arrive.

Prospective applicants Olive Yuen, 27, and Yvan Mosbergen, 25, said they might apply for Toa Payoh Hillside. Both have lived in Toa Payoh for most of their lives and value its central location. For households with existing ties to the town, the project offers another opportunity to seek a home nearby.

The dates and developments to follow

Toa Payoh West is one part of a wider programme of renewal. Near the existing town centre, construction is already under way on the Toa Payoh Integrated Development, which is expected to be completed by 2030.

That development will bring together sports and recreation, healthcare, learning, greenery and community facilities. It will serve the existing centre while the Caldecott area gains a new concentration of homes and amenities.

The main dates announced for the plans are:

• October 31, 2026: Chee unveiled the Toa Payoh West master plan at HDB Hub.
• October 31 to November 2, 2026: The master plan exhibition runs at HDB Hub's Level 1 Gallery.
• November 2026: Toa Payoh Hillside is scheduled for the BTO sales exercise.
• Until mid-2027: Selected exhibition displays remain at the same venue.
• By 2030: The Toa Payoh Integrated Development is expected to be completed.
• Over the coming decade: More than 6,000 homes are planned for Toa Payoh West.

Residents have been encouraged to examine the plans and submit feedback to HDB and the People's Association. The exhibition gives existing residents and prospective applicants an opportunity to consider how the proposed homes, paths and facilities fit together.

Key Points

• Toa Payoh West is planned to gain more than 6,000 homes, mostly public housing, over the coming decade.
• Toa Payoh Hillside is scheduled for November 2026, with five blocks and about 1,600 flats.
• The project includes Toa Payoh's first 260 Community Care Apartments, alongside other flats and public rental housing.
• A mall, plaza, wellness park and connected green spaces are planned around Caldecott MRT.
• A school is being studied, with its type unspecified.
• The separate Toa Payoh Integrated Development is expected to be completed by 2030.