This time for our BTO review series, I headed over to the Bidadari estate, one of Singapore’s newer (and more popular) housing estates. I picked the recently completed Bartley Beacon BTO, mainly because of how ridiculously close it is to Bartley MRT. The station is literally right at its doorstep; you don’t get many BTOs with that kind of convenience.While it scores big on accessibility, it’s a little lacking when it comes to other nearby amenities. Still, with a few shops and even a supermarket within the development itself, it’s fairly self-sufficient. Let’s take a closer look.&nbsp;<h3>Touring the grounds</h3>Bartley Beacon gets its name from the fact that it’s one of the entrances to the Bidadari estate, a sort of welcoming “beacon,” if you will. If you’re coming in from the Bartley MRT station exit, the first thing that’ll catch your eye are the shops, eating house and the supermarket located at block 221. Most of the shops weren’t open when I visited, but the Sheng Siong supermarket (which is quite a substantial one!) was already up and running.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:912/1824;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/c790fa2c-a324-458e-a925-6df666e83fd7-blob" width="912" height="1824"></figure>&nbsp;Part of the development borders the very busy Bartley Road, though most stacks face the quieter Mount Vernon Road overlooking either the Gurkha Cantonment, or face Maris Stella High (the school’s set to undergo renovation from 2027 to 2029 by the way). So, while it’s not exactly a peaceful retreat, it’s not unbearable either, just expect a bit of urban buzz.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:912/1824;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/18dda53c-5d5a-4b83-992d-36281256d5f9-blob" width="912" height="1824"></figure>&nbsp;With 880 units ranging from 3- to 5-room flats, Bartley Beacon is a pretty sizable development built on naturally sloping terrain, which made my site visit feel a bit like a mini hike. HDB describes the overall layout as a “mountainous trek,” and honestly, I cannot disagree.Some areas were still cordoned off due to ongoing construction, so getting around took a bit of effort, lots of stairs and detours. The layout isn’t the most intuitive either; some connecting pathways sit on different levels. For instance, one part could be on the second floor, while another connects at the first. Things did feel a bit maze-like at times. Despite this, the driveways are pretty straightforward. There are also a lot of convenient drop-off points throughout the development.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:912/1824;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/c914ad97-708d-477f-921e-1827d2d1c07c-blob" width="912" height="1824"></figure>&nbsp;Because of its size, Bartley Beacon has two carparks, both located along Mount Vernon Road, which is also where the main driveways are. The carparks here are generous in size and topped with rooftop gardens, easily one of the main highlights of the project, in my opinion. I especially liked the one at Block 221, which not only has swing sets (yes, I did spend a good 15 minutes on them), but also offers a near-panoramic view across Bartley Road. Took my breath away for a bit there!&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:912/1824;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/e84655c4-446f-49a1-bb13-307e91e8db22-blob" width="912" height="1824"></figure>&nbsp;Most of the on-site facilities, like playgrounds and fitness corners, are located either on the rooftop gardens or along the central spine of the estate. The ones in the middle were still closed off when I visited, but I managed to catch a glimpse of a pretty cool playground featuring giant water wheels. It ties in nicely with HDB’s “cascading water creek” theme for the development, though, to be clear, there’s no actual body of water.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:912/1824;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/ec33eedf-3073-4df9-ae39-3bcb2160c102-blob" width="912" height="1824"></figure>&nbsp;Facades for the blocks are painted in warm sand and clay tones, very much in line with the rest of the Bidadari BTOs and also allude to the landscaping along the “creek”. The eight blocks are spaced fairly close to one another, so there isn’t a strong visual distinction between them. Stacks facing the school are also quite near to it, although a boundary wall provides some degree of privacy.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:912/1824;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/ada49b61-7f05-43e1-ac69-429779741ca0-blob" width="912" height="1824"></figure>&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/675;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/0df1f924-ff06-43bf-b522-842db28e81a6-blob" width="1200" height="675"></figure>Units are located pretty close to each other&nbsp;The rest of the estate's pretty nondescript. Though to be fair, having not much of a personality is probably not a big deal in a popular estate.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/675;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/b6e0104d-a80e-4b9d-91e6-c22eecbe9138-blob" width="1200" height="675"></figure>Void decks&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/675;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/00561742-5e24-4b90-a388-96ad8e531e8c-blob" width="1200" height="675"></figure>Letter boxes&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Surrounding Bartley Beacon</h3>In terms of public transport, besides Bartley MRT, there are also bus services along Bartley Road that connect you to nearby neighbourhoods like Serangoon and Toa Payoh, and even all the way to HarbourFront.The proposed bus stop along Mount Vernon Road isn’t up yet, though there does seem to be an area set aside for it. Judging by the state of things, it might still be a while before it’s ready.The new Bidadari Park is less than a 10-minute walk away, a lovely green space within the estate that blends manmade landscaping with preserved natural areas. There’s also a great playground and plenty of scenic spots popular with nature photographers.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1140/643;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/4bc8d7e8-a67a-48a3-8c56-e3a541debfc1-blob" width="1140" height="643"></figure>Bidadari Park&nbsp;For food and retail options, The Woodleigh Mall and Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre are about a 15-minute walk away. It’s a bit of an (unsheltered), but you’ll find pretty much everything you need there, including a FairPrice Finest at the mall and more transportation options. This is where you can hop onto Woodleigh MRT station, which sits along the North-East Line, and is also where the Woodleigh Bus Interchange is.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:1200/677;" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/9a4d8c27-bbf6-4041-b521-f5409c8e8d93-blob" width="1200" height="677"></figure>The Woodleigh Mall&nbsp;

Bartley Beacon BTO Review and Site Tour: A Bidadari Project Right Next to the MRT

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