www.shaproperty.com

SOILBUILD Group Holdings is expanding its presence in the Balestier Road area. The group said yesterday that it has signed various options to purchase properties worth $44.5 million through its wholly owned subsidiary SB (Blueteak) Development Pte Ltd.

They include 24 units of apartments under a collective sale in Minbu Road and Martaban Road and adjacent terrace houses and apartments. The owners of the 24 units who have given their sale consent will get about 70 per cent more than what they will get if they sell their units individually, said property consultants Teakhwa Real Estate. Soilbuild said it will also be acquiring certain adjoining lots.

'Altogether, the total land size is about 4,498 sq metres and the total land cost is about $44.5 million,' said Soilbuild. 'Based on the approved plot ratio of 2.8 and an estimated development charge of $0.2 million, the cost of the land is about $329 psf per plot ratio.'

The combined freehold site can be re-developed into a condominium of maximum 36 storeys, with about 90-100 units assuming an average size of 1,500 sq ft per unit. The breakeven cost for the new condominium development on the freehold plot is estimated to be approximately $560 psf, said Teakhwa. This new project is expected to be launched by 2007.

'From our completed projects, we have also built up an extensive database of potential buyers and we are confident that there will be a strong demand for the new condominium units at Minbu/Mandalay Roads,' said Low Soon Sim, Soilbuild's executive director.

This is not the first time Soilbuild has had projects in the Balestier Road area. Its other projects include the 18-storey Pinnacle 16 and Mandale Heights. Including the new purchase, Soilbuild will have four new upcoming residential property projects, including One Tree Hill Residence, the site at Bright Apartments and the recently acquired site at Cashew Road. The latest acquisition will be funded by internal resources and bank borrowings.