A THIRD site earmarked for public housing to be designed, built and sold by private developers has attracted a top bid of $134.2 million.

Greatearth Development placed the bid, which was 13 per cent higher than the one submitted by its closest rival, AMK Development, and well ahead of those of the other three contenders.

Consultants say the higher-than-expected price - it works out at $212.4 per sq ft (psf) per plot ratio - reflects developers' confidence in the demand for public housing and suburban condominiums.

The 1.7ha plot on Ang Mo Kio Street 52 can house about 550 flats in blocks that can reach 36 storeys.

Savills Singapore's director of marketing and business development, Mr Ku Swee Yong, estimated that the break-even price for the Ang Mo Kio plot would be about $500 psf.

This means the flats can be launched from $580 psf, putting the starting price of a four-room unit at about $560,000.

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