[New Launch] 8@BT in Bukit Timah Officially Launched

Bukit Sembawang Estates' 8@BT is the first new condominium project to launch following the Hungry Ghost Month. The 158-unit private residential project will commence its public preview on 7 September, with official sales launching two weeks later on 21 September.

Located in prime District 21, 8@BT comprises 158 units across two 20-storey towers. Typical unit layouts range from one- to four-bedroom apartments, alongside two penthouses.

Bukit Sembawang acquired the 49,634 sq ft, 99-year leasehold site along Bukit Timah Link for $200 million via a Government Land Sales (GLS) tender. Its bid was the highest among the five submitted when the tender closed in November 2022. Bukit Sembawang’s winning bid was 15.7% higher than the second-highest offer of $172.9 million by Wing Tai Holdings.

The developer paid a premium for the site because it recognised its intrinsic value. Situated in the heart of Bukit Timah, it enjoys proximity to all desirable amenities—an MRT station, bus interchange, shopping malls, cafés, restaurants, schools, and nature reserves.

The development is just a two-minute walk from Beauty World MRT station. The station forms part of an Integrated Transport Hub featuring a new air-conditioned bus interchange. The bus interchange will be situated on Level 2 of the upcoming three-storey Bukit V mall, which is part of the mixed-use development The Reserve Residences.

Besides the upcoming Bukit V right across the road, other nearby amenities include eateries along Cheong Chin Nam Road as well as established malls such as Beauty World Plaza, Beauty World Centre, and Bukit Timah Shopping Centre. Popular primary schools within reach include Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School (within 1km of 8@BT), Methodist Girls' School (Primary), and Nanyang Primary School. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Rifle Range Nature Park, and the Rail Corridor are also just across the road.

Given that it is a purely residential development, Bukit Sembawang envisioned 8@BT as a "nature-inspired, resort-style development". The architectural lines of the facade draw inspiration from the undulating topography of the site and the cliff walls of the former granite quarries at Bukit Timah Hill, which have transformed into tranquil sanctuaries. The quarries and quarry lakes also inspired the terraced landscaping and the swimming pools. Award-winning Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism serves as the appointed architect for 8@BT, with EcoPlan Asia as the landscape architect.

Efficient Layouts and Space Maximisation

Beyond the exterior and communal facilities, the developer has dedicated considerable thought to spatial planning and fine detailing within the units. There are only 32 one-bedroom units, ranging from 517 to 592 sq ft, accounting for about 20% of the development. Two-bedroom units, spanning 624 to 829 sq ft, make up 48 units (30%).

Another 47 units are three-bedroom configurations ranging from 1,001 to 1,270 sq ft (around 30%). Four-bedroom units, spanning 1,356 to 1,593 sq ft, account for 29 units (18%).

The development's two penthouses comprise a 1,593 sq ft two-bedroom unit and a 1,356 sq ft four-bedroom unit. Both penthouses sit atop the 20-storey towers, boasting a ceiling height of 4.3 metres and private lift access.

The penthouses and four-bedroom units will come fully fitted with high-end De Dietrich kitchen appliances. Other units within the development will feature Bosch kitchen appliances and Samsung smart refrigerators. All kitchens will also include a "waterfall kitchen sink" equipped with an integrated digital display faucet and soap dispenser. The developer noted that as the kitchen is a central hub of the home, functionality is paramount.

Other thoughtful touches include full-length mirrors in the master bathrooms across all units, and windows in both kitchens and bathrooms to facilitate cross-ventilation. Balconies in the larger units are generously proportioned and can function as outdoor dining spaces, accommodating a dining table, barbecue grill, and bar or drinks cart.

The one- and two-bedroom units at 8@BT boast highly efficient layouts with minimal corridor space and no balconies, translating to larger living and dining areas. The three- and four-bedroom units feature exceptionally spacious living and dining areas spanning a width of at least 5 metres.

Crafting a Distinctive Lifestyle and Identity

The developer believes 8@BT will appeal to a diverse spectrum of homebuyers, buoyed by the ongoing gentrification of the precinct. These include young professionals or couples in the early stages of their careers, families with school-going children seeking proximity to transport nodes, reputable schools, and amenities, as well as downsizers transitioning from landed properties to condominiums.

The Bukit Timah Link GLS site marks Bukit Sembawang’s first non-landed residential land parcel acquired through a state tender. The developer sought a site capable of creating a distinctive lifestyle and identity, and this location presented that exact opportunity, underscoring their confidence in the precinct's growth.

The Only Purely Residential Development in the Immediate Vicinity

Recent launches in the Bukit Timah precinct around Beauty World MRT station have been fully or largely sold out. For instance, the 120-unit The Linq @ Beauty World, an integrated development directly connected to the MRT station, launched in November 2020 and saw 115 units (96%) snapped up on its launch day at an average price of $2,165 psf. The project was completely sold out a year later.

Directly across the road from 8@BT sits the 33-storey, 732-unit The Reserve Residences, part of an integrated transport hub mixed-use development. Launched in May 2023, The Reserve Residences enjoyed equally stellar take-up, with 71% of units taken up over its launch weekend at an average price of $2,460 psf.

To date, The Reserve Residences is 96% sold. The remaining units comprise large three- and four-bedroom configurations. Transacted unit prices have ranged from $2,304 psf for a 1,744 sq ft four-bedroom unit on the fourth floor to $2,619 psf for a four-bedroom unit on the 28th floor.

8@BT stands out as the only purely residential project in the immediate Beauty World MRT vicinity. With The Reserve Residences 96% sold, buyers seeking to participate in the heart of the Beauty World transformation will inevitably set their sights on 8@BT.

A Well-Established Prime Location

The project stands to benefit from its doorstep proximity to the MRT station and the comprehensive array of amenities in the neighbourhood. While buyers remain cautiously optimistic, many are keen to seize the opportunity when the right property presents itself.

The next new residential project in the pipeline for the precinct is located along De Souza Avenue, off Jalan Jurong Kechil. Developer Sustained Land secured the 207,156 sq ft, 99-year leasehold site in a GLS tender on 1 August. The site can yield around 355 residential units, with the launch expected in the second half of 2025.

Selling Prices Estimated Between $2,500 and $2,600 PSF

Demand for 8@BT is expected to be relatively healthy, largely driven by its strategic location. Given that it is a boutique-to-mid-sized development, strong reception is anticipated upon launch. The fact that The Linq sold 96% over its launch weekend and The Reserve Residences moved more than 70% during its initial launch weekend underscores the robust housing demand in the neighbourhood.

Prices in the area are already trending upwards. The Linq @ Beauty World has recorded six resale transactions since last year. In February, a 787 sq ft three-bedroom unit on the 19th floor of the 20-storey tower changed hands for $2.24 million ($2,812 psf). This was followed in August by the resale of a 549 sq ft two-bedroom unit on the 17th floor for $1.60 million ($2,915 psf), setting a new psf benchmark for the development.

While The Linq enjoys direct sheltered connectivity to Beauty World MRT station, 8@BT is less than a two-minute walk away, making it just as compelling in terms of locational attributes.

Factoring in the land rate of approximately $1,343 psf ppr for the 8@BT site and prevailing elevated construction costs, selling prices for the project are estimated to range between $2,500 and $2,600 psf.