Affordable and quality homes that utilise IBS and incorporate sustainable features

SEREMBAN, 13 December 2011  Sime Darby Berhad today launched the first landed property homes in collaboration with Projek Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA) that incorporate both innovative and sustainable features.

These include the Industrialised Building System (IBS), which shortens the construction period while ensuring build quality, and sustainable features such as solar energy and rainwater harvesting systems.

The first phase of the project is located at Sime Darby s 550-acre Bandar Ainsdale in Negeri Sembilan, of which 154 acres are allocated to build 420 affordable and quality homes. Half of the total units (210) will be landed strata homes, while the remaining 210 units comprise low rise strata town houses or cluster homes.

Prime Minister YAB Dato' Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak officially launched Sime Darby s PR1MA homes today. Also present were Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar, YAB Dato Seri Utama Mohamad Hasan; Sime Darby Chairman YABhg Tun Musa Hitam; the President and Group Chief Executive of Sime Darby, YBhg Dato Mohd Bakke Salleh, and; the Group Chief Operating Officer of Sime Darby and Managing Director of Sime Darby Property Bhd, Dato Wahab Maskan.

Musa said in his welcoming speech that PR1MA homes, like in any of Sime Darby s award winning townships, are built with a focus on quality and innovation.

 The affordable and quality housing category is one of the strategic components of Sime Darby s property development plans. Challenges to property developers like Sime Darby is to come out with quality products while making it affordable to those in the middle income category, he added.

Bandar Ainsdale will showcase a selection of strong product attributes in line with Sime Darby s philosophy of Developing Sustainable Futures. The Group aims to leverage on its well proven track record of developing sustainable townships to ensure the success of this initiative.

In terms of space and material specifications, PR1MA developments have features that are exclusive to Sime Darby. With built-up areas ranging from 930 sq ft to 1,490 sq ft., most of these homes will have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, high 11-feet ceilings, full wall tiles and good sanitary fittings fitted in all bathrooms, laminated timber flooring for the first floor and bedrooms for strata units.

Purchasers will also be able to choose from a selection of eight different types of low-rise units, each specially designed to meet different lifestyle needs.

Sime Darby s landed PRIMA homes in Bandar Ainsdale will also incorporate innovative sustainable features such as common solar system and rainwater harvesting systems. The development will have a low density of 14.2 units per acre and dedicated spaces for greenery. Sime Darby s developments will also feature an integrated landscape concept.

All PR1MA homes will be built using the innovative modular design that is MS 1064 certified, as well as utilising the IBS which is expected to shorten construction period while ensuring build quality.

By implementing IBS in a successful manner, Sime Darby hopes to help showcase the viability of IBS and promote its utilisation in the nation s property development sector.

Safety and security is also an important feature being emphasised. PR1MA homes have a  gated and guarded concept where there s only one common entry and exit point into the development.

Bandar Ainsdale was chosen as it will give its residents easy access to major destinations, highways and the state capital of Negri Sembilan- Seremban - which is about 5km away. Sime Darby will also be developing amenities and facilities such as multipurpose halls, places of worship and dedicated public recreation space for its PR1MA residents.

Sime Darby plans to go the extra mile by enhancing the mobility of residents of its affordable and quality homes through the incorporation of Transport Oriented Development or TOD concept into its developments.

TOD involves the integration of public transportation infrastructure in a way that will make it easier for residents to utilise public transportation to move from one place to another. This not only makes it convenient for members of the community, but also benefits the environment as a whole.

Sime Darby has received an approval in principle from KTM Berhad for a new Kommuter station which it will jointly develop. This station will be called Bandar Ainsdale Terminal.

Projek Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (PLUS) will also be building a new Seremban Interchange from North South Expressway (NSE) into the site, to be completed by November 2013. The new interchange is 1.6 km awayfrom Bandar Ainsdale.