2026 BTO Launch: What to Know Before You Start Planning Your Renovation

HDB launched 6,952 flats across seven projects in June 2026, covering Bukit Merah, Bishan, Ang Mo Kio, Sembawang, and Woodlands. The two headline projects are Berlayar Rise in Bukit Merah and Lakeview Cascadia in Bishan, both Prime classification, and both expected to draw strong demand. If you've applied or are planning to, here's what to start thinking about before your queue number comes up.

This was our first home, and we had no idea where to start with the renovation. Ace's Design walked us through everything, the permit process, the timeline, what to spend on and what to save on. They made the whole thing feel manageable." Amirah R., 4-room BTO, West

Berlayar Rise: Prime waterfront living in Bukit Merah

Berlayar Rise comprises six residential blocks ranging from 33 to 49 storeys, offering 1,976 units of two-room Flexi, three-room, and four-room flats, located next to Telok Blangah MRT Station. Four-room flats are priced from $592,000 to $810,000 before grants, with an estimated waiting time of between 49 and 54 months, targeting completion between Q2 and Q3 2031.

As a Prime project, there is a 14 per cent subsidy clawback and a 10-year minimum occupation period on resale. Selected sky terraces and roof gardens offer panoramic views of the surrounding area, and facilities include a three-storey preschool, nature-themed playgrounds, and a residents' network centre. For the full project details and to check your eligibility, visit the HDB Flat Portal.

Lakeview Cascadia: First new BTO in Upper Thomson in 40 years

Lakeview Cascadia in Bishan offers 1,221 units of two-room Flexi and four-room flats, with four-room units priced from $534,000 to $742,000 before grants. The project is a five-minute walk from Marymount MRT station with an estimated waiting time of just over four years, targeting completion in Q2 2031.

These will be the first public housing units launched in the Lakeview area in over 40 years, with the nearest comparable HDB flats in Bishan dating back to 1984. The development sits within a strong school catchment, with Catholic High School and Raffles Institution nearby, making it particularly attractive to families.

As covered by Channel NewsAsia, property analysts expect firm demand for both Prime projects given their locations and the scarcity of new supply in these estates.

The other five projects

For buyers who want a shorter wait, Sembawang Portico has the shortest estimated waiting time at 31 months, with Sembawang Brook at 33 months. Two Plus projects in Ang Mo Kio, Kebun Baru Breeze and Kebun Baru Ridge, offer four-room flats from $543,000 before grants. As reported by Channel NewsAsia, around 2,500 flats in this launch carry shorter waiting times, making them worth considering if your timeline is tighter.

What successful BTO applicants should start planning now?

Getting a flat ballot is only the beginning. The renovation planning process for a BTO unit can and should start well before key collection.

Here's why it matters to start early. Renovation permits from HDB have to be applied for before work begins, and new BTO owners have three months from the permit date to complete all works.

That window sounds generous until you factor in contractor availability, lead times for custom carpentry, and material procurement. The homeowners who move in on time are almost always the ones who started talking to designers months before they collected their keys. My Nice Home has a useful overview of the full BTO process from application to key collection if you are going through this for the first time. Renovation costs for a 4-room BTO flat in 2026 typically fall between $40,000 and $80,000, depending on scope, materials, and how much is being customised versus kept standard. Getting a realistic estimate early means your renovation budget is factored into your financial planning before you commit, not after.

What to think about for a Prime flat, specifically

Berlayar Rise and Lakeview Cascadia both carry a 10-year minimum occupation period. That changes how most homeowners approach renovation decisions. Materials and finishes built to last become a better investment than trend-driven choices you might want to change in five years. Storage design matters more when you are committing to a space long-term. These are conversations worth having at the design stage, not after carpentry is installed.

Planning your June 2026 BTO renovation

Ace's Design works with BTO homeowners from the planning stage through to completion, including the permit application process, material selection, and timeline management. Whether you have just applied or are already in the queue, starting the conversation early is always the right move. We are also at the Qanvast Hangout on 27-28 June 2026 at JustCo, The Centrepoint, if you would like to meet us in person before your keys are ready.

Get in touch with Ace's Design for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will walk through your unit type, your brief, and what is realistic for your budget and timeline.