THE Housing Board (HDB) on Thursday launched more than 1,400 premium homes in Punggol and Sengkang for sale as it moved to meet increasing demand.

This brings the total supply for the year to about 8,400 units - more than the 6,000 homes launched last year and the 2,400 in 2006.

The new projects - Compassvale Pearl in Sengkang and Punggol Sapphire in Punggol - are offered under HDB's build-to-order (BTO) system where flats are built only when a certain demand is reached.

Thursday's launches follow the release last week of detailed plans to develop Punggol into a 'waterfront town'.

HDB said it will spend $25 million on landscaping and architectural work for Punggol's 4.2 km waterway and a further $5.1 million on its upcoming Town Park.

Both features are part of the 'Punggol 21-plus' vision mentioned by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at last year's National Day Rally.

Punggol Sapphire offers 1,065 flats - 760 four-roomers, 282 five-room premium flats and 23 five-room loft units, which have higher-than-normal ceilings allowing for a loft.

Premium flats have better finishes, making them slightly more costly, said the HDB.

The estate is next to Punggol MRT station and a stone's throw from the future Town Centre, which will have a mix of entertainment, sports and recreation facilities.

Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.