We’ve heard all about the East Coast Plan, but Northies, it’s now your time to shine. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong took to the stage to deliver the National Day Rally on August 17, 2025 – and among updates on vaping laws and social support initiatives, there was much buzz on development plans for the North, specifically in the estates of Woodlands, Kranji and Sembawang.
Here’s a summarised version of all you need to know about what’s up-and-coming in the North if you missed the National Day Rally live telecast or simply need a recap.
Woodlands
Anticipate fewer jams during weekend trips across the Causeway, as Woodlands Checkpoint will expand to five times its current size. The upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link – directly connected to Woodlands MRT station along the brown Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) – will also alleviate border-crossing traffic woes.
New BTO flats will be launched along Woodlands Waterfront and next to Admiralty Park.
Kranji
A massive housing project with over 14,000 new homes – more than Biddadari’s – will be launched in Kranji, where the former Singapore Racecourse once was. Don’t worry about this being no man’s land, as a new Kranji Neighbourhood Centre will be built near Kranji MRT to provide convenient amenities for residents.
And here’s to more city in nature. The former Kranji racecourse site will also be surrounded by lush greenery, including Mandai Nature Reserve, the Rail Corridor, the Sungei Mandai waterway, and two spaces set to open in 2028 – the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park.
To further improve connectivity, there will also be a new MRT interchange station at Sungei Kadut, connecting the blue Downtown Line and red North-South Line.
Sembawang
Sembawang Shipyard will be transformed into a mixed-development hub, with waterfront homes and recreational spaces for dining, events, sports and perhaps even concerts. More concrete plans to spruce up this expansive coastal area are still underway.
These are just some key snippets from the 2025 National Day Rally. Watch the full 1-hour 35-minute speech on Channel News Asia via YouTube.
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