Feb 2019 BTO Sengkang’s Fernvale Vines Analysis: Which Unit to Choose?

Fernvale Vines was launched during the recent Feb 2019 BTO sales exercise. We will delve into our observations about this development in Sengkang as well as look at the best units to choose if you managed to get a queue number. We did a similar analysis for Boon Lay Glade and Jurong West Jewel in Jurong West as well as Kallang Breeze and Towner Crest in Kallang/Whampoa. Check those articles in our blog if you’re going for a unit in those estates instead.  

Site Visit and Overview of Fernvale Vines

Bounded by Fernvale Street and Fernvale Road, the site is situated on a relatively quiet location.

The surroundings.

We visited the site on a weekday evening during peak hours and found the area to be relatively quiet, save for a couple of heavy vehicles passing by, owing to the numerous construction sites around. However, most of the sites will already be built when Fernvale Vines is completed so this isn’t a major concern. Nonetheless, when people start moving in to these new residential buildings, you will definitely expect a surge in the number of vehicles passing through the two roads which Fernvale Vines is bounded by.

Along Fernvale Road.

Along Fernvale Street.

Some of the units will actually be located next to the LRT tracks. While it is less frequent and less noisy compared to MRTs, this might still be a nuisance, so do take note of that when selecting your unit.

Noise of LRT in close proximity.

Details for Fernvale Vines:

	Fernvale Vines
Expected Completion	4Q2022 to 1Q2023
Location	Along Fernvale Street and Fernvale Road, next to Thanggam LRT station
No. of Blocks	6
No. of Units	933
Highest Storey	17 to 24
Type of Flats	2-room Flexi, 3-, 4-, 5-room, and 3Gen
Other Information	Built using the Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) method

 

Around Fernvale Vines

Map courtesy of OneMap

Fernvale Vines sits within the edge of a cluster of BTOs in the area. To the west of the site though are condominiums, both of which will be completed before Fernvale Vines. And as mentioned earlier, this will mean you won’t have to put up with too much construction works in the area when you finally move in. Surrounded by Residential Buildings

According to the map from HDB, the immediate site is primarily surrounded by residential buildings, save for the ones in the southern part of the site, which is reserved for a school and some common green. Towards the north, there’s a site reserved for a school. But it was also revealed in the map that this site will most likely be converted into a residential zone, so there’s a possibility that it might be replaced by high-rise buildings. Aircraft Noise? According to Google Maps, Seletar Airport is an estimated 3km away from the site. As such, there is a chance you might be contending with the occasional aircraft noise. The airport also recently opened a passenger terminal, which is expected to increase air traffic in the area. However, we didn’t notice any air traffic during our brief site visit, which may be due to the fact that Fernvale Vines doesn’t lie in any aircraft route. Transport The site sits right next to Thanggam LRT station, which is four stops away from Sengkang LRT/MRT interchange on the North-East Line. There’s a feeder service, bus 374, along Fernvale Road and Fernvale Street that takes you to the Compassvale Bus interchange just next to Sengkang MRT station. There are also bus stops along Sengkang West Way to take you to estates in Punggol, Hougang and Yishun. For drivers, the TPE can be reached in approximately 7 minutes. The expressway is also linked to the CTE and SLE to reach different parts of Singapore. Nearest Amenities The nearest shopping mall is The Seletar Mall, located next to Fernvale LRT (one station away from Thanggam LRT) and can be reached by foot in approximately 15 mins. Besides a good variety of F&B options, there is also an NTUC Fairprice within the mall. The nearest supermarket however is Sheng Siong, over at BTO Fernvale Rivergrove, which is to the east of Fernvale Vines and can be reached in approximately 9 mins by foot. Also next to Fernvale LRT is the upcoming integrated community facility, which will comprise a hawker centre, wet market and a childcare centre. For breakfast or late-night eats, visit the stretch along Jalan Kayu (8-min walk), which has anything from dim sum and soya beancurd to prawn noodles and bak kut teh.

Jalan Kayu.

Recreation-wise, residents can enjoy the facilities over at Sengkang Riverside Park (approx. 13-min walk away), a picturesque park next to the river Sungei Punggol. Schools There are quite a number of primary schools within walking distance. These include: Fern Green Primary School (8-min walk), Fernvale Primary School (13-min walk) and Sengkang Green Primary School (7-min walk).  

Which Unit to Choose?

Privacy Because of the way the units are oriented, most of them take up a corner spot, making them pretty private spaces. The highlighted units are ones that won’t have too many nosy neighbours walking by and peeking into your home. 464A: 500, 502, 504, 512, 514 464B: 520, 522, 530, 532, 534 465A: 538, 540, 548, 550, 552 465B: 554, 556, 558, 566, 568 466A: All stacks 466B: All stacks Less Western Sun The western sun in Singapore comes from the north-west and south-west directions and it can make your home feel like an oven when you return home from work. While most units at Fernvale Vines are facing these directions, there are some units that will most likely be partially obscured and blocked thanks to the adjacent units before them. So pick those for a cooler flat: 464A: 516 464B: 530 465A: 548 465B: 570 466A: 576 466B: 584 Away from Human Activity Zones Human activity zones in this instance are defined as areas such as the school (at the southern part of the site), the roof garden above the carpark, fitness stations, pavilions, playgrounds as well as to the bus stop along Fernvale Street and to the LRT along Fernvale Road. They tend to be centres of human activity and therefore noisier and less conducive. 465A: 536, 542, 544, 546, 550 466A: 576, 578, 580, 582 466B: 584, 586, 588 Away from LRT Tracks and Roads Traffic noise and noise from the passing LRT can be an impediment to sleep or any sort of work, so it is best to avoid stacks that are facing the LRT tracks or the roads (Fernvale Street and Fernvale Road) directly. 464A: 500, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516 464B: All stacks 465A: 536, 538, 550, 552 465B: 554, 556, 568, 570 Other Considerations

• Stacks like 590, 588, 586, 580, 578 and 576 face the common green. Pick those for a possible verdant view.
• Being located close to the LRT station or the bus stop will be convenient if you take those frequently. Since the site is relatively large, being located at the other end of these transport nodes might add quite a bit into your travelling time.

We hope this site and unit analysis has helped you make a more informed decision when choosing a flat. Recommendations are based on our observations. Discretion is advised. All site maps are courtesy of HDB.  

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