Feb 2024 BTO: Unit Analysis for Matilda Riverside at Punggol

It’s been more than four years since the last Punggol launch, so the announcement for Matilda Riverside was definitely met with some excitement. (The last one was in September 2019 for Punggol Point Crown and Punggol Point Cove.) In this article, we take a look at what's surrounding the site, and delve into the best units to pick if you managed to snag a queue number. 

BTO	Matilda Riverside
Location	Along the Punggol Reservoir
PLH model?	No
Total no. of units	962
Unit types	2-room Flexi, 3-, 4- and 5-room units
No. of blocks	7
How tall?	10 to 19 storeys
Estimated completion date	4Q 2027
Pricing	2-room Flexi Type 1: $131K - $177K 2-room Flexi Type 2: $158K - $221K 3-room: $242K - $296K 4-room: $318K - $429K 5-room: $464K - $582K

What’s around Matilda Riverside?

Matilda Riverside isn’t in the most convenient location. It’s about a 25-min walk away from Punggol MRT station and Waterway Point, the main shopping mall in town, or about five bus stops away.

The future bus stop right in front of the BTO (along Sumang Lane) may help to improve public transport connectivity in the area though. Sumang Lane is a pretty small and quiet road, with a roundabout at the end of it.

Sumang Lane

Matilda Riverside is also right next to Seletar Airbase, so you will have to get used to hearing noise from the aircraft. We did hear a few during our site visit, but it wasn’t overly loud—just a constant hum. The TPE also borders a part of the site, and the traffic noise from that is much louder.

Part of the BTO borders the TPE

For now, the nearest amenities are over at Matilda Court (the BTO next to Matilda Riverside). There’s a food court, some shops (a hardware store and some clinics) as well as a Sheng Siong supermarket. But based on the HDB maps and a quick look at the URA master plan, there may be a commercial development built right next to the BTO. No news as of now what it will be, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

The main selling point for Matilda Riverside is, obviously, its riverside vantage. Some stacks will also be enjoying direct waterfront views so that’s definitely a big plus. (More on those specific stacks in the next part of the article.) The Punggol Park Connector running along the waterfront will also be a boon to those who enjoy cycling and jogging.

Currently, there’s direct access to the park connector from the project site, although it remains to be seen if this direct walkway will still be around after the BTO is built.

Direct path to park connector likely to be removed?

For young families, the primary schools within the 1-km radius include Punggol Green Primary School, Springdale Primary School and Valour Primary School.

Which unit should I choose?

There is a good mix of unit types in Matilda Riverside, and there are plenty of larger units which makes it a family-friendly area. You can see this reflected in the on-site amenities, with four playgrounds, a multipurpose court, a hardcourt, and a 3-storey preschool available for residents.

Of course, everyone loves the stacks with a view of the river, but let's also consider the drawbacks of these units and explore other options that might be more favourable in different ways.

2-room

If you’re going for the 2-room units, consider whether you’ll be going for Type 1 or Type 2 units. If this is the first time you're getting a 2-room unit, you may not know that Type 1 units are smaller (and cheaper), whereas the Type 2 units typically are larger and have room for a small study area or even a guest bedroom.

For folks looking for a view of the river, stacks 521 and 523 are the way to go. Just keep in mind that they also face the on-site multipurpose court and a common green area, so you may experience higher noise levels. Stack 521 is also directly facing the lift lobby, so it’s not very ideal for privacy either. Finally, both stacks will get some afternoon sun, coming in from the northwest directions in the months of March to September.

If you prefer a quieter stack, I would recommend going for stack 403. It faces the road, but it’s likely not going to be an overly busy one, save for future feeder buses passing through it in the future. Plus, the stack’s also pretty convenient in terms of access to public transportation.

Stack 447 is also great if you value privacy. It's located on a corner, with the nearest facing stack situated at a comfortable distance away.

3-room

No riverfront views for the 3-room stacks, I’m afraid. But there are some pretty decent stacks. For privacy and quiet, go for stacks 401 and 417, both of which are corner stacks and overlooking a small road that will likely only see future feeder buses passing through. Both of these stacks are also convenient for getting to the future bus stop.

If you like a cooler unit away from the afternoon sun, you might want to consider stacks 461 and 493. They will likely be shielded from the afternoon sun by the neighbouring stacks.

Even though stack 515 doesn't face west, the afternoon sun will still hit one of the walls, so your home will still get hot in the afternoon.

4-room

Waterfront views are available for stacks 467, 501, 503, 517 and 519 and are my top picks for the 4-room units. The only other caveat besides the noise (from Seletar Airbase + being next to a park connector) is that they will get the full brunt of the afternoon sun in certain times of the year. Stacks 467, 517 and 519 will be from March to September, while stacks 501 and 503 will be from September to March. But with those unblocked, riverside views? Probably worth it.

If the afternoon sun thing is something of a deal-breaker, these are the stacks to pick: stack 429*, 431*, 457*, 459*, 463, 471, 473*, 475*, 499, 509, 525, and 527.

*for these stacks, only units on the 6th floor and below are likely to be shielded from the afternoon sun

For those who value privacy and quiet, I’ll opt for corner stack 509. I like that it isn’t directly overlooking into another stack either. Plus, it’s not facing any areas where people tend to gather, so it’s likely going to be a pretty quiet stack.

5-room

Go with stacks 465 or 505 for the waterfront, unblocked views. Similarly, these stacks might be noisier because of Seletar Airbase and the proximity to the park connector. Another downside is that you will likely get the brunt of the afternoon sun during the months between March and September.

For those who prefer a cooler unit without having the afternoon sun coming through, go for stack 415 as well as a lower floor unit, 6th floor and below, at stacks 433 and 435. Just note that stacks 433 and 435 face the TPE and carpark so you will hear quite a bit of traffic noise and be subjected to vehicle fumes.

If you are looking for a peaceful and private stack, I’ll go with corner stack 419. It faces the quiet Sumang Lane with minimal disturbances. My next choice would be stack 507, as it offers some privacy and is away from the busy areas like the lift lobby and rubbish chute.