SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - Due to the scarcity of land in Singapore, the allowable use and intensity of development for each land parcel are carefully planned by URA. These long-term land use plans are combined to form URA’s Master Plan, which is renewed on a regular basis. The prevailing Master Plan was revealed in 2019, and the next Master Plan is expected to be unveiled next year.

It is important for homebuyers to have knowledge about potential developments that could be built near their dream home before they sign on the dotted line. Neighbouring developments will not only affect their immediate living environment but also the market value of their asset.

EdgeProp LandLens provides an easy and quick way for homebuyers to check the latest long-term plans and find out more about existing and future developments in their neighbourhood. In this article, we will provide homebuyers with a guide on how to use this user-friendly tool to help them make more informed decisions.

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The basics

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After logging into EdgeProp LandLens, prospective buyers can enter the address of their ideal home in the search bar to view some basic information about the development as well as a map showing its location (see Screenshot 1). If users scroll down, they will also be provided with the latest sales transactions for the development, which will help them gauge the market price for the development.

Checking out the neighbours

Clicking on the “Surrounding Details” button in the navigation panel allows users to gain insights into the neighbouring developments. Users can choose the surrounding developments to be viewed by varying the radius (see Screenshot 2). Users can also expand the surroundings to the entire planning area, subzone, or district. The developments included in the examination will be listed together with some basic information such as average price and tenure.

Information on nearby schools and MRT stations can also be found. Parents can adjust the radius to 1 km to determine whether any primary schools are located within that distance. Users can also find the locations of all nearby MRT stations (see Screenshot 3).

Users can also choose the type of surrounding development to be examined within different distances. They just need to click on the different buttons (see Screenshot 4).

Peeking into the future

Essentially, the Master Plan provides an overview of the government’s strategic plans for the long-term development of Singapore. The entire island is divided into five regions: Central, North, West, East, and North-East. Each region is divided into several planning areas, which are further divided into several subzones. For example, Lentor View is in the Tagore Subzone, which is in the Ang Mo Kio Planning Area and the North-East Region.

Besides being able to ascertain the planning area and region of the development, prospective buyers can also find out more about planning regulations for surrounding developments by clicking on the “MP-Latest” tab.

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The allowable use for each land parcel is denoted by different colours on the Master Plan. Prospective buyers can easily find what each colour represents by clicking on the “Legend Information” button (see Screenshot 5).

Furthermore, potential buyers can find out about the allowable development intensity of each land parcel because the plot ratio for each site is denoted by the number shown on the site. The maximum gross floor area (GFA) for a site is calculated by multiplying the site area by its plot ratio. As such, a higher plot ratio would mean a larger maximum GFA and more intensive use of the site.

This is very useful when there are plots of empty land nearby. Buyers will be able to find out the allowable uses for the land and ensure that the future neighbouring development will not be a disamenity.

EdgeProp’s LandLens also provides useful information about future developments. The land parcels that are slated for tender under the government land sales (GLS) program are clearly marked on the map. In addition, basic information about the GLS site is provided (see Screenshot 6).

Finally, potential buyers can find out whether there are any new or upcoming developments in the neighbourhood (see Screenshot 7). Armed with this information, prospective buyers will be able to do some comparison shopping before making a decision.

In a nutshell

EdgeProp LandLens aims to equip prospective homebuyers with useful information about their ideal home and its immediate neighbourhood. Prospective buyers are also offered a glimpse of future developments in the neighbourhood via the Master Plan. Savvy homebuyers who use this comprehensive tool will be able to arm themselves with up-to-date and useful information that will help them in their home search journey.

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Check out the latest listings for Lentor View properties

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