H88.com.sg » HDB Reviews » HDB BTO: Punggol Ripples and Punggol Sails Review

Location
Punggol Ripples and Punggol Sails are located southwest of Punggol MRT station and at the fringe of the designated Punggol Town Centre along Punggol Field. In total there are 130 studio apartments, 436 three room flats, 403 four room flats and 109 five room flats.

Location for Punggol Ripples at the fringe of the town centre. A proposed place of worship is right beside Punggol Ripples.

Location for Punggol Sails, a proposed mosque will be right beside Punggol Sails.

Although both projects are built upon empty land, infrastructure is largely already in place. Buildings in the immediate area of both projects are typically high rise HDB residential projects, educational institutions and places of worship. Most of these are not completed yet, but will be ready before Punggol Ripples and Sails.

Transport
Although both projects have LRT rail lines running around them, it is actually more convenient to walk directly to Punggol MRT and the temporary bus interchange which are about 480m away. Alternatively residents could take a feeder bus about 2 stops to the central; currently there are no buses servicing the immediate area, however we are sure services will be put in place when the area is populated by Ripples, Sails and other surrounding projects.

Drivers will find themselves just round the corner from the TPE expressway. This will quickly take drivers to town via the KPE or Woodlands via SLE. Changi airport is a short drive away.

Closest MRT
Punggol MRT (~480m)

Bus Service
To be confirmed

Amenities
Punggol Ripples will offer a child care centre and some shops on the groundfloor. Across the road, a coffeeshop and more sundry shops will be found under Punggol Regalia. Beyond, is the future town centre about 600m away.

Currently, the closest existing shopping mall would be Compass Point which is an MRT stop away in Sengkang.

Closest Malls:
Future Punggol Town Centre (~600m)
Compass point (~1.1km)
Punggol Plaza (~1.6km)

Punggol Ripples and Sails are flanked on both east and west sides by educational institutions. The one on the western flank is already under construction and will be up and running way before the two projects are completed.

Schools Nearby (Selected):
Future Educational Institutions (~50m)
Compassvale Secondary (~545m)
Rivervale Primary School (~962m)
Edgefield Primary School (~1km)
More here.

Design
Design is pretty straightforward since both projects will likely be surrounded by future high rise residential in future. The blocks are arranged around the multi-storey car parks (sorry guys, no basement parking for this one!).

Birds eye view of the projects.

Both projects go up 16 floors - but so do the surrounding blocks to the northeast and southwest. The only reprieve would have been for units on the eastern and western ends that face the low rise education institutions and places of worship...but unfortunately those units are orientated in a north-south facing. If the architect had optimized the units for a better view, they would be facing the west or east sun directly (morning sunshine isn't a bad thing is it?).

The two projects roughly superimposed onto satellite maps. We mapped out unit facing in this mashup so you can get a better idea of what you will be looking at in future (for general reference only). Click for huge image.

A 360 degree view from where Punggol Ripples will be built. Click for huge image.

A 360 degree view from where Punggol Sails will be built. Click for huge image.

Potential high floor views taken from nearby blocks...although we are pretty sure it will all be blocked eventually (Unfortunately we could not get two angles no matter how hard we tried to flap our arms). Click for huge image.

We did manage to dig up a couple of gems which we thought offered decent views. Although they won't offer panoramic ones, a decent amount of privacy will be established. They are:

Punggol Ripples
Stacks 665, 667, 669 (overlooking the multi-storey car park, place of worship, and main road)

Punggol Sails
Stacks 906, 906 (overlooking a main junction and maze of LRT tracks)
Stacks 962, 982 (overlooking common green and LRT tracks)

Apart from the gems, there we a number of units that also had decent breathing space between them and other blocks. We awarded these with consolation bonus points and you can find them in the unit scoring chart.

Typical units facing northeast will look directly at Punggol Regalia and Punggol Residences while those facing southwest (TPE) will likely face high rise residential in future too.

We also noticed a couple of units facing roads "directly"...and slapped them with penalties. Not that we are superstitious, but should the road have a speed bump along it...headlights will be shining into your rooms late into the night.

For those wondering about that "green space" that starts under the LRT tracks north of Punggol Ripples and run in between both projects, we dug up a bit on it:

What it looks like now.

What it could look like in future (taken in Sengkang)

And for those with sharp eyes that have been wondering what that strange looking building is southeast of Punggol Sails, it is actually a "power supply station".

Our take on individual unit scoring. These scores are weighted heavily in favor of better views and considerations that might have a detrimental effect on lifestyle. Click to download chart in excel format.

Editor’s note: Scoring of unit desirability is relevant within this BTO project only, please do not cross reference scores. While we try our best to give the most accurate information, we cannot guarantee our materials are completely accurate and free from errors. Always double check with HDB representatives. HDB did not include floor plans for individual units this time round, so all our recommendations in this section are based on "intelligent guesses". You will however get detailed plans via mail prior to selecting a unit.

Pricing
Once again while eas(ier) on the wallet than resale flats, we wished that all these sky high HDB prices would calm down a little...anyway...

Studio units Indicative Price (56 units):
Internal size: 35 sqm/376 sqf*
Indicative price Min: $65,000 (~$1857 psm/$172 psf)
Indicative price Max: $73,000 (~$2085 psm/$194 psf)

Studio units Indicative Price (74 units):
Internal size: 45 sqm/484 sqf*
Indicative price Min: $84,000 (~$1866 psm/$173 psf)
Indicative price Max: $92,000 (~$2044 psm/$190 psf)

3rm units Indicative Price (436 units):
Internal size: 65sqm/699 sqf*
Indicative price Min: $138,000 (~$2123 psm/$197 psf)
Indicative price Max: $173,000 (~$2661 psm/$247 psf)

4rm units Indicative Price (403 units):
Internal size: ~90 sqm/968 sqf*
Indicative price Min: $223,000 (~$2477 psm/$230 psf)
Indicative price Max: $266,000 (~$2955 psm/$274 psf)

5rm units Indicative Price (109 units):
Internal size: ~110 sqm/1184 sqf*
Indicative price Min: $332,000 (~$3018 psm/$280 psf)
Indicative price Max: $377,000 (~$3427 psm/$318 psf)

Do the numbers for 3rm and 4rm prices look familiar? That's because they are priced identically the same as recently launched Boon Lay Meadows! Anyway, here is a price comparison from a premium project from across the road.

Punggol Residences 4-room units Indicative Price (615 units):
Size: 91sqm/979sqf*
Indicative price Min: $264,000 (~$2901psm/$269psf)
Indicative price Max: $322,000 (~$3538psm/$330psf)

Punggol Residences 5-room units Indicative Price (154 units):
Size: 114sqm/1227sqf*
Indicative price Min: $344,000 (~$3017psm/$280psf)
Indicative price Max: $409,000 (~$3587psm/$333psf)

So it seems like the 4rm flats are significantly cheaper, however the "discount" for the 5rm flats as compared to premium project Punggol Residences isn't that great.

*Internal Floor Area, based on smallest unit

Summary:
Punggol Ripples and Sails are two more cookie cutter projects to fill up the numbers in Punggol. Within walking distance of Punggol MRT and at the fringe of the town centre, its location isn't too bad. But it is just a shame that no LRT stations service them despite all the lines going past it. Apply for it here if you have not already.

We hoped that this guide has helped you! Tell us if you are applying here.

Images: URA, HDB, Googlemaps