Plans have been unveiled to transform Toa Payoh West into a vibrant residential and community hub over the next decade, featuring more than 6,000 new homes, new green spaces, a shopping mall, and potentially a new school. The announcement was made on October 31 by National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat, who highlighted the efforts to rejuvenate this established public housing estate and enhance its amenities.
The upcoming development aims to create a “second heart” for Toa Payoh, complementing the existing town centre, with a mixed-use complex housing the area’s first shopping mall. This new mall, located near Caldecott MRT station, is expected to be comparable in scale to Woodleigh Mall in Bidadari. Adjacent to it, a plaza will provide a communal space for residents to gather and exercise.
A prominent feature of the plan is a 1.2-hectare wellness park designed with nature-themed playgrounds, jogging tracks, fitness stations, and tranquil areas such as butterfly trails and gardens. Additionally, a network of parks and green spaces will form a “central green valley” running through Toa Payoh West, linking residential blocks to key facilities and transportation nodes. To reflect the area's hilly landscape, building heights will vary, stepping down towards the valley with lower-rise blocks interspersed amongst taller ones.
Connectivity within Toa Payoh West will be improved by a new 15-meter-wide, tree-lined pedestrian walkway linking Caldecott MRT station and Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, facilitating easier access to the town centre and surrounding amenities. This development complements broader efforts in Toa Payoh, including the ongoing transformation of the Toa Payoh Integrated Development, which is scheduled for completion by 2030.
Among the significant residential projects announced is Toa Payoh Hillside, a Build-To-Order (BTO) development comprising 1,600 units launching in the upcoming November sales exercise. The project will include both public and private housing options. Importantly, it will introduce the town’s first block of assisted-living flats, also known as community care apartments, to support aging-in-place initiatives. These 260 flats will feature senior-friendly design elements such as coloured signage for navigation and grab bars in common areas, and offer sheltered access to Caldecott MRT station and nearby facilities, including an Active Ageing Centre.
Minister Chee noted that proposals for a new school in the area are under review, aiming to accommodate the educational needs of growing families moving into the neighbourhood. The last addition of new schools in Singapore includes three special education schools announced in March, and two primary schools planned for Yishun and Woodlands, revealed in May 2025; however, the specific school type proposed for Toa Payoh West has yet to be confirmed.
Collectively, these developments seek to refresh one of Singapore's oldest Housing Board towns, enriching its infrastructure and amenities to serve multiple generations and support a higher quality of life for residents.