Three BTO developments were launched during the last BTO Sales Exercise back in February 2020. Two of which are located in Toa Payoh—Toa Payoh Ridge and Kim Keat Ripples. Besides a general overview of these two developments and their surroundings, we’ll also be looking at the best units to pick if you managed to snag a queue number for them.
<h2>Overview</h2>
<table border="1" width="600">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124772" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/toa-payoh-ridge.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="339" /></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124773" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Kim-Keat-Ripples.jpg" alt="" width="492" height="374" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Toa Payoh Ridge</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Kim Keat Ripples</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Location</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Along Lor 1 Toa Payoh and Toa Payoh Rise</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Along Toa Payoh East and Kim Keat Ave</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total Units</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">920</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">708</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Highest Storey</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">25 to 40</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">16 to 31</td>
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<tr>
<td>No. of Blocks</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Flat Types</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2-room Flexi, 3-, and 4-room</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2-room Flexi and 4-room</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Distance to nearest MRT</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Approx 6-min walk to Braddell MRT and Caldecott MRT stations</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Approx. 20-min walk to Toa Payoh MRT and Potong Pasir MRT stations</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Estimated Completion</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">1Q2025</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">2Q2024</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
In Toa Payoh Ridge’s immediate vicinity are mostly HDB flats, as well as Braddell View, a former HUDC that has been in the news recently for its failed en-bloc attempts. The site to its west is reserved for a school.

The BTO’s main draws are its close proximity to MRT stations (and three different MRT lines once the Thomson-East Coast Line is up and running) as well as being surrounded by a number of popular schools. In terms of amenities, Toa Payoh Ridge is located within a short walking distance from neighbourhood centre Toa Payoh West as well as the line of shops and F&amp;B options (a food court and McDonald's) along Lorong 1 Toa Payoh.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124758" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Site-for-Toa-Payoh-Ridge-as-of-Feb-2020.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450" />Site for Toa Payoh Ridge, as of Feb 2020
Kim Keat Ripples is surrounded by a mix of older housing estates and newer BTO developments. The estate is also bounded by Toa Payoh Industrial Park, a site mainly for clean and light general industrial trades.
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124759" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Site-for-Kim-Keat-Ripples-as-of-Feb-2020.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450" />Site for Kim Keat Ripples, as of Feb 2020.
Amenities wise, Kim Keat Ripples is located within a short walking distance to the neighbourhood centre in BTO Kim Keat Palm. The Toa Payoh Polyclinic and the Toa Payoh South Community Centre are located just across the road. Unlike Toa Payoh Ridge, Kim Keat Ripples is not located near to its nearest MRT stations. However, most stacks in this development are north-south facing which is a huge plus if you want a windier home.

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<h2>Unit Analysis for Toa Payoh Ridge and Kim Keat Ripples</h2>
<h3>Privacy</h3>
When choosing a unit for its privacy, you’ll want to pick a corner flat that won’t have neighbours passing by and looking in. Also, opt for units that are away from the lifts and rubbish chutes.

These are the units to pick for Toa Payoh Ridge:

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124763" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/TPY-Ridge-Privacy.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1291" />

402A: 600, 606, 610
402B: 614, 620
403A: 628, 634
403B: 640, 648, 650

These are the units to pick for Kim Keat Ripples:

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124765" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Kim-Keat-Ripples-Privacy.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1045" />

268A: 400, 402, 404, 416, 418
269A: 420, 422, 434, 436, 438
270A: 442, 444, 452

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<h3>Facing away from the western sun</h3>
In Singapore, the hot afternoon comes in two directions: north-west and south-west, depending on the time of the year. So you’ll want to avoid stacks that have the important rooms in the home (living room, bedrooms) facing these two areas.

For a second-best option: "Inner" stacks might also get shade from neighbouring blocks, so that's something else to consider when picking your unit.

These are the units to pick for Toa Payoh Ridge:

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124766" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/TPY-Ridge-West-Sun.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1298" />

402A: 600, 608, 610
402B: 616, 618, 62
403A: 630, 632, 634
403B: 640, 650, 652

These are the units to pick for Kim Keat Ripples:

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124767" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Kim-Keat-Ripples-West-Sun.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1050" />

268A: 400, 402

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<h3>Unblocked views</h3>
Units with unblocked views are often windier and you will get to enjoy a greater sense of openness. The caveat is that if your unit is facing the west directions, you are likely to feel the full brunt of the afternoon sun. That said, unblocked views are still a huge plus.

These are the units to pick for Toa Payoh Ridge:

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124768" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/TPY-Ridge-Views.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1297" />

600, 608 and 610 at 402A: These stacks are facing short buildings such as the 7-storey car park and the 3-storey social community facilities building. If you are picking a unit in those stacks, go for a unit that is higher than these buildings. For an even clearer view, go for a unit that is above the 25th storey, which is how tall the stacks at 403B are. These stacks are in the sight of view for those stacks at 402A.

612, 622 and 624 at 402B: There is a great distance between these stacks and the next obstruction, so you will likely enjoy decent unblocked views here.

618 and 620 at 402B: Go for a unit above the 36th storey.

616 at 402B: Go for a unit above the 25th storey.

636 and 638 at 403A: There is a great distance between these stacks and the next obstruction, so you will likely enjoy decent unblocked views here.

630, 632 and 634 at 403A: There is a great distance between these stacks and the next obstruction, so you will likely enjoy decent unblocked views here.

646 and 648 at 403B: These stacks are facing short buildings such as the 7-storey car park and the 3-storey social community facilities building. If you are picking a unit in those stacks, go for a unit that is higher than these buildings.

640, 650 and 652 at 403B: There is a great distance between these stacks and the next obstruction, so you will likely enjoy decent unblocked views here.

These are the units to pick for Kim Keat Ripples:

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124769" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Kim-Keat-Ripples-Views.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1046" />

As blocks 268A and 269A are staggered with stacks reaching up to different heights, we’ll base the analysis on the highest floor available at 31 storeys.

410, 412, and 414 at 268A: Get a unit above the 13th floor to enjoy decent views.

406 and 408 at 268A: Get a unit above the 25th floor to enjoy decent views.

420, 422, 434, 436 and 438 at 269A: These stacks face the 7-storey car park. Get a unit above the 7th floor to enjoy decent views.

424, 426 and 428 at 269A: These stacks face the single storey childcare centre so all the units here will likely get decent views.

440, 442 and 454 at 270A: There is a great distance between these stacks and the next obstruction, so you will likely enjoy unblocked views here. Also, these stacks are facing the commercial buildings, which aren't very tall, across the road.

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<h2>What else to consider?</h2>
For Toa Payoh Ridge:
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124760" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Toa-Payoh-Lorong-1-is-a-pretty-busy-road.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450" />Toa Payoh Lorong 1 is a pretty busy road.

<ul>
 	<li>Toa Payoh Lorong 1 is a major road, which can get quite busy. Avoid stacks that face this road if you wish to minimise traffic noise.</li>
 	<li>For stacks facing Braddell Rise, you will likely be impacted by traffic noise during drop-off and pick-up times as this road leads into the current Raffles Girls’ Secondary School as well as a future school site. Otherwise, we found this road to be a lot less busy compared to Toa Payoh Lorong 1.</li>
 	<li>For a quieter home, you may want to avoid stacks that are close to block 401A, which is a 3-storey building housing social community facilities. It will likely host a number of community events in the future.</li>
</ul>
For Kim Keat Ripples:
<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-124761" src="https://d213h1b7vxzzl3.cloudfront.net/editor/Toa-Payoh-East-leads-into-the-industrial-park.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="450" />Toa Payoh East leads into the industrial park.

<ul>
 	<li>For peace and quiet, avoid stacks 416 and 418 at block 268A that face the pavilion.</li>
 	<li>Toa Payoh East is a road that leads into the industrial park areas. We noticed during our site visit quite a number of trucks and vans passing through so it can get quite noisy if you are choosing a unit at a stack (440 or 442) that faces that particular road.</li>
 	<li>Toa Payoh East and Kim Keat Ave may also face high traffic during special festivals or events hosted by the nearby Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery.</li>
</ul>
All maps are courtesy of HDB

<a href="https://www.renonation.sg/feb-2020-bto-unit-analysis-for-canberra-vista-at-sembawang/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Getting a unit at Canberra Vista at Sembawang instead? Check our analysis here</a>.

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[Feb 2020 BTO] Unit Analysis for Toa Payoh Ridge and Kim Keat Ripples

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