Hougang Central Site Awarded: The Tender Behind LinkTown Residences
Three bids, S$1.5 billion and the first major mixed-use land sale in Hougang in over a decade. How the Hougang Central Residences site was won.
The land that LinkTown Residences (Hougang Central Residences) will be built on was sold through the Government Land Sales programme. The tender closed on 16 December 2025 and the site was awarded on 14 January 2026. Here is what happened, and what it tells buyers.
The tender result
The Hougang Central site is a mixed-use parcel of about 504,820 sq ft with a 99-year lease and a plot ratio of 2.5, allowing a gross floor area of about 1.27 million sq ft. It drew three bids:
| Bidder | Bid | Per plot ratio |
|---|---|---|
| UOL Group, CapitaLand Development and CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) | S$1.5 billion | S$1,179 psf |
| Sim Lian Group | S$1.47 billion | S$1,155 psf |
| Frasers Property, Sekisui House and Lum Chang | About S$1.4 billion | About S$1,100 psf |
The winning bid was 2.06% above the second. A narrow gap like this suggests the serious bidders valued the site in a similar range. Our look at the S$1.5b land bid goes through what it may imply for prices.
Why the site drew attention
It is the first major mixed-use GLS site in Hougang in over a decade. It sits directly above Hougang MRT station (NE14) on the North-East Line, which will become an interchange with the Cross Island Line when Phase 1 opens, targeted around 2030. The development will also include a new Hougang bus interchange and a town plaza with sheltered public event space.
Retail is a gap in the area. Hougang has about 230,000 residents but only about 2.8 sq ft of private retail space per person, against a national average of 11.4 sq ft. The planned mall of about 300,000 sq ft net lettable area is set to be the largest in Hougang.
Who builds what
The site splits into two parts. The mall is developed and 100% owned by CICT, at a development cost of about S$1.1 billion. The homes, about 830 of them, are for sale. They are being developed by a joint venture of CapitaLand Development (50%), UOL Group (40%) and Kheng Leong (10%), as confirmed in UOL’s August 2026 results. Early reports described a 50:50 split between CapitaLand Development and UOL. Read more on the developer page.
What the land price means for buyers
Land cost is one input into launch pricing, not a formula for it. Analysts currently estimate an average launch price of around S$2,500–2,600 psf. That is an estimate only: prices have not been released. The price list page explains how the estimate was reached and what quantum it implies for each indicative unit size.
No prices, unit mix or showflat details have been announced. The sales launch is expected in early 2027, and UOL’s August 2026 results guide a 2H 2027 launch.
What comes next
After the award, the Hougang Central Residences developers work on the design and approvals, then the sales documents and showflat. Completion is expected around 2030/2031. Follow the launch date page for each milestone, and see the LinkTown Residences overview for everything confirmed so far. For the strengths and trade-offs in one place, read our LinkTown Residences review.
Register to get the LinkTown Residences price list and showflat dates as soon as they’re released.
Frequently asked questions
How much was paid for the Hougang Central Residences site?
The winning bid was about S$1.5 billion, or S$1,179 psf per plot ratio, submitted by UOL, CapitaLand Development and CICT.
When was the Hougang Central site awarded?
The tender closed on 16 December 2025 and the site was awarded on 14 January 2026.
How many bids did the Hougang Central tender receive?
Three. The winning bid was 2.06% above the second-highest bid from Sim Lian Group.