GREEN landscapes and cycling networks will be part of the Housing Board's three upcoming heartland developments.

Bidadari, Tampines North and Punggol Matilda will yield a total of 40,000 new public and private homes over the next 10 to 15 years.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan unveiled these plans on Thursday evening during the launch of a public exhibition at Toa Payoh HDB Hub.

The plans "carefully build on each estate's history, distinctive local flavour and features", said Mr Khaw, adding that "every new town must be better than the previous one". To this end, new towns will have more public spaces like community gardens, lush greenery and pedestrian and cycling trails.

Bidadari, located near Serangoon, will have a park a tenth of its total size as well as a cycling path for its six neighbourhoods. These will serve residents of its 11,000 flats.

Tampines North, which forms a fifth of Tampines Town, will have two parks and a new shopping centre-cum-bus interchange serving its 21,000 upcoming homes - a fifth of which will be private units.

Punggol Matilda, one of Punggol's seven districts, will feature an elevated landscaped deck with verandahs, colonnades and a pavilion. Its name and architecture are inspired by the iconic Matilda House located nearby.

Some 500 three- and four-room flats in Punggol Matilda will be on offer during September's Build-To-Order exercise. Flats in Tampines North and Bidadari will be up for sale in the second halves of 2014 and 2015 respectively.