The Housing and Urban Development Co (HUDC) grew out of a scheme first mooted by Minister for Law and National Development Mr E. W. Barker in Parliament on March 22, 1974. The plan was to offer middle income families, earning between $1,500 to $3,000 a month who do not qualify for Housing Board flats, an alternative, condominium style housing option.

Dec 27, 1974

The Ministry of National Development announced that families can use their CPF contributions to pay for HUDC apartments and that there will be no waiting list for aspiring owners.

Apr 1, 1975

The New Nation reported that people showed up as early as 19 hours before booking opened for the HUDC flats. There were even "professionals" selling their spot in the queue for $75 a pop.

There were 2,544 units, priced between $55,000 for a 139 sq m apartment and $100,000 for a 158 sq m unit, spread out between five estates: Amber, Braddell Rise, East Coast, Farrer Estate and Lakeview Estate.

March 30, 1976

Applications for the HUDC's first batch of maisonettes open. The 12-storey block of 72 units, each spanning 158 sq m and priced from $94,000 to $105,000.

July 12, 1977

There is a delay in the construction of HUDC flats in Braddell View as the principal contractor, Wei Giap Construction, goes bust and is facing winding up proceedings in the High Court. The HUDC appoints another contractor to take over the project and assures buyers that the delay is minimal.

Feb 18, 1983

The prices for HUDC apartments are announced in the third phase of development and they are up by 78 to 143 per cent. Of the 2,846 units to be released for sale, a number in the prime estates at Pine Grove and Gillman Heights are also reserved for civil servants, who will pay 17.5 per cent less than the listed prices.

Revised prices, attributed to rises in land and material costs among other causes, now range from $180,300 for a 156.2 sq m apartment in Jurong East to $330,800 for a 167.5 sq m maisonette in Pine Grove estate.

1987

The Housing Board stops building HUDC apartments as private property prices fall and interest in the units dwindles.

1995

Privatisation is introduced for HUDC estates, giving home owners more say in the management of their estates. The process is initiated by public announcement and designation in the Government Gazette. The first batch to be privatised are the Gillman Heights and Pine Grove developments. The second batch comprise Lakeview, Farrer Court, Jurong East and Hougang South estates.

2006

Amberville at Katong is the first privatised HUDC estate to be sold in a collective sale for $83 million. The site is now occupied by Silversea, a condominium complex.

2014

Braddell View is the last of 18 HUDC estates to be privatised. National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan wrote in his blog that this was the end of an era: "The era of HUDCs has ended. However, HUDC estates will remain a testament to the creative ways in which we have housed our people and help(ed) them fulfil their dreams."