URA still investigating Forestville EC sale

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) says it is still investigating the proposed sale of Forestville Executive Condominium on Dec 28.

This is despite developer Hao Yuan Investments not getting the green light from URA's Controller of Housing (COH) to proceed with the sale.

In a response to queries from MediaCorp, URA says the COH had instructed the developer on 28 December not to sell units in the Forestville EC project, pending further investigations.

The statement adds that  "the developer has launched the project with some proposed changes to the development's plans which had not been approved, and this is not allowed."

MediaCorp understands that the developer has initially received the necessary approvals from URA for the sale.

However, the company had made some changes to the development plans at the eleventh hour and this has prompted URA to step in and stop the sale.

It is believed the URA is currently looking into the entire process leading up to the intended sale.

This includes ensuring the proposed changes to the development plans are in good order.

URA adds that "the results of the investigation will help us determine what further actions to take."

Hao Yuan issued a statement on Saturday (Dec 29) to clarify that "there were no bookings of units for Forestville EC as originally intended on Dec 28." 

Instead, the company says "the balloting process proceeded as usual in order to determine the sequencing order of the applicants."

It adds that there were also no booking fees collected and as such there will be no forfeiture.

This came following reports on Friday claiming that about 20 per cent of the dual-key units at Forestville were snapped up within two and a half hours of the launch. 

The developers have included about 200 such units in the 653-unit project.

Dual-key units are designed to contain separate living spaces under one roof.