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Property Herald: Developers’ Appetite for Land is Tempered by Caution: River Valley Green GLS Land-tender Closed

Nicholas Mak

Summary

The higher participation by developers in the latest GLS tender for the site at River Valley

Green (Parcel B) shows that the major developers looking to replenish their land bank in the

light of the recent spike in new home sales since last November. However, the analysis of

the spread of the bids shows that the developers’ appetite for land is still tempered by

caution.


This is the fourth site in the location around Great World City to be sold in the past 12

months. The sale of these land parcels would also sate the developers’ appetite for

condominium sites in District 9, which would also knock the wind out of the sails of private

projects that are attempting enbloc sales in the short term.


The new development on this site could be launched in 2H 2026 at about $3,100 to

$3,400 psf, barring any market shocks such as new property cooling measures and

economic slowdown.


Introduction


The tender for the Government Land Sale (GLS) residential site at River Valley Green

(Parcel B) closed today, attracting 5 bids and the top bid is higher than the land rate of

nearby GLS sites sold earlier, signalling that developers’ appetite for land is growing again.


Brief Description of the Site


With a site area of 126,325 sq ft, the GLS site, River Valley Green (Parcel B) can yield about

475 condominium units. Being zoned for residential development with commercial space on

the first storey. The developer can build commercial space ranging from 4,300 to 5,380 sqm,

which are likely to be used for shops and F&B outlets. Such retail space would provide retail

amenities that could enhance the attractiveness of the residential properties to homebuyers.

This site is also attractive due to its proximity to the Great World MRT Station which is only

230 metres away. This will allow residents easy access to public transportation within a

stone’s throw from their homes.


River Valley Green (Parcel B) GLS site map

Small section of a Singapore map
Source: Mogul.sg Research, URA

The fourth site to be sold in the Great World City area


If the tender for the subject site is awarded to the top bidder, it will be the fourth GLS

residential site in the River Valley / Zion Road area to be sold by the government in the past

twelve months.


The residential developments that are being built on the three land parcels that were sold

between April and August 2024 are not launched for sale to the public yet. Altogether, these

four sites can yield a total of 2,200 private housing units, which is a significantly large supply

for that location.


The sale of these land parcels would also sate the developers’ appetite for condominium

sites in District 9, which would knock the wind out of the sails of private projects that are

attempting enbloc sales in the short term.



Table 1: GLS residential sites in the River Valley / Zion Road area

GLS Land Parcel

Tender Award Date

Tender Price ($)

Price ($ psf ppr)

No. of Bids

Initial est. No. of Units

Zion Road (Parcel A)

16 APRIL 2024

$ 1,106,888,000

$ 1,201.93

1

735

River Valley Green (Parcel A)

27 JUNE 2024

$ 463,999,999

$ 1,325.27

2

380

Zion Road (Parcel B)

7 AUGUST 2024

$ 730,088,888

$ 1,304.33

2

610

River Valley Green (Parcel B)

N.A.

$ 627,835,896

$ 1,420.00

5

475

Source: Mogul.sg Research


These four sites in the River Valley area will be developed by different developers. In theory,

homebuyers would benefit if the developers do not collude and instead compete mainly on

price and housing quality.


Table 2: Developers of GLS residential sites in the River Valley / Zion Road area

GLS Land Parcel

Tender Price ($)

Developer(s) (Top Bidder)

Initial est. No. of Units

Zion Road (Parcel A)

$ 1,106,888,000

City Devts Ltd & Mitsui Fudosan

735

River Valley Green (Parcel A)

$ 463,999,999

Wing Tai Holdings

380

Zion Road (Parcel B)

$ 730,088,888

Allgreen Properties

610

River Valley Green (Parcel B)

$ 627,835,896

Guocoland

475

Source: Mogul.sg Research


Analysing the bids


This tender attracted five bids from developers, which is more than double the number of

bids submitted in the previous tender for sites in this location. The most recent GLS tender in

this area was for the site at Zion Road (Parcel B). It closed in July 2024 with only two bids

submitted.


Table 3: River Valley Green (Parcel B) tender bids

Ranking

Name of Tenderer

Tendered Sale Price ($)

Land Rate ($ psf ppr)

1

Guocoland

$ 627,835,896

$ 1,420

2

Sing Holdings

$ 576,330,000

$ 1,304

3

Singhaiyi Group

$ 566,000,000

$ 1,208

4

Hong Realty

$ 553,562,000

$ 1,252

5

Kingsford Group

$ 552,120,000

$ 1,251

Source: Mogul.sg Research


The higher participation by real estate developers in this land tender shows that the major

developers are looking to replenish their land bank in the light of the recent spike in new

home sales since last November.


GuocoLand’s bid in the tender that closed today was the highest at $627,835,896, which

translates to a land rate of $$1,420 psf ppr.


The top bid is a significant 8.9% higher than the second highest bid from Sing Holdings,

indicating GuocoLand’s determination to acquire this site. Furthermore, the gap between the

second to fifth bid is rather close, differing only by 4.2%, illustrating that the other bidders

hold similar views regarding their valuation of this site, which are less than $1,310 psf ppr.


It also indicates that the developers’ appetite for land is tempered by caution.


In our opinion, it is very likely that the authorities will award this tender to GuocoLand due to

its top bid, and it is an experienced property developer.


Estimated launch price of the new project


Based on the land rate of the top bid and the expected development costs, the new

development on this site could be launched in 2H 2026 at about $3,100 to $3,400 psf,

barring any market shocks such as new property cooling measures and economic

slowdown.

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