LAS PIÑAS, PHILIPPINES — A major residential development south of Metro Manila is preparing to introduce a new retail promenade and technology-equipped golf driving range as developer Height Realty Inc. moves closer to welcoming its first residential lot owners in January 2027.
Southlinks Estate, a 33.6-hectare master-planned residential community along Southvale Drive in the Daang Hari–Alabang corridor, is expanding its planned lifestyle amenities to include shopping, dining, recreation and wellness facilities.
The additions include Southlinks Promenade, a retail development featuring a supermarket and selected commercial spaces, and Golf Range by Southlinks, a 20-bay driving facility equipped with advanced golf performance-tracking technology.
Both developments are scheduled to open in 2027.
But beyond the new shopping and recreation facilities, Southlinks is pursuing a broader ambition: positioning itself as a premium residential community that combines convenience, active living and sustainable land development.
The estate has also received a five-star BERDE District rating at the planning stage, putting additional attention on whether the developer can turn its sustainability commitments into measurable results once construction and operations progress.
SOUTHLINKS PROMENADE TO BRING SHOPPING AND DINING CLOSER TO RESIDENTS
One of the estate’s most important planned additions is Southlinks Promenade, a neighborhood-scale retail development intended to serve residents and visitors.
According to InsiderPH and The Philippine Star, the promenade will occupy a 10,266-square-meter site.
It will contain a supermarket and five additional retail units distributed across two single-storey buildings.
The developer plans to allocate approximately 80% of the promenade site to open spaces.
This design reflects a preference for landscaped surroundings and a more relaxed shopping environment rather than a conventional high-density commercial complex.
For future residents, having a supermarket and retail establishments within the community could reduce the need to travel outside the estate for certain daily purchases.
The commercial development may also provide a place for casual dining, social interaction and neighborhood activities.
However, the developer has not publicly confirmed a full tenant roster, exact individual store opening dates or official operating hours.
The promenade should therefore be regarded as a planned 2027 facility rather than an already operating shopping destination.
HIGH-TECH GOLF RANGE TO FEATURE 20 TRACKMAN-EQUIPPED BAYS
Another major addition is Golf Range by Southlinks, designed to serve both recreational golfers and players interested in improving their technique.
The facility will feature 20 driving bays equipped with TrackMan technology.
TrackMan systems are used to analyze golf shots and provide performance measurements that can help players evaluate distance, ball flight and other aspects of their technique.
The technology is commonly associated with professional golf instruction, coaching and practice environments.
The Southlinks facility will also include putting and chipping areas, a restaurant, bar and professional golf equipment shop.
These features are intended to create a broader leisure destination rather than merely a space for practicing long-distance shots.
The golf range also acknowledges the property’s history as a former golf course.
However, the planned driving range should not be confused with the reopening of a full championship golf course.
The developer has not yet announced the precise opening date, membership structure or public usage fees for the facility.
HEIGHT REALTY BETS ON WELLNESS-ORIENTED RESIDENTIAL LIVING
Height Realty President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Wong has described wellness as a central part of the company’s long-term development strategy.
Speaking during a media briefing, Wong emphasized that the developer wants to build a residential environment where families can integrate physical activity, recreation and outdoor experiences into everyday life.
The concept goes beyond conventional residential amenities.
Instead of treating sports facilities and green spaces as optional features, Southlinks plans to incorporate them into the broader design of the estate.
This approach reflects growing developer interest in communities that offer more than housing.
Residents increasingly evaluate factors such as access to open spaces, recreational opportunities, neighborhood conveniences and the quality of the surrounding environment.
However, the value of these amenities will ultimately depend on whether the facilities are delivered as planned and maintained effectively over time.
40% OF THE ESTATE ALLOCATED TO OPEN SPACES
Southlinks Estate’s master plan includes 336 residential lots, according to the latest media briefing.
The development allocates approximately 40% of its land to open spaces.
For a 33.6-hectare property, this represents a substantial portion of the estate set aside for areas outside conventional residential lot development.
Planned amenities include tennis, pickleball, basketball and badminton courts.
The project also incorporates swimming pools, a running track and a wellness garden.
These facilities are intended to encourage residents to participate in sports, walking and other recreational activities within the community.
Open spaces may also help create a less congested environment compared with more densely developed urban residential areas.
However, the environmental benefits of individual landscape features depend on their design, maintenance, drainage systems, plant selection and long-term management.
The allocation of open space alone does not guarantee a particular level of environmental performance.
SOUTHLINKS EARNS FIVE-STAR BERDE DISTRICT RECOGNITION
One of the estate’s most significant developments occurred in September 2026, when Southlinks Estate and Southlinks Promenade received a five-star BERDE District rating under the Philippine Green Building Council’s certification program.
According to a September 7 InsiderPH report, the development became the first in Metro Manila to achieve the highest rating under the BERDE Districts Version 1, Stage 1 – Planning assessment.
The certification evaluates the sustainability features incorporated into the district’s development plans.
It is intended to encourage responsible land use, environmental management and resource-efficient development.
Philippine Green Building Council Chair Raymond Rufino described the five-star rating as recognition of a high level of environmental planning.
The achievement provides independent recognition of the estate’s design-stage sustainability commitments.
However, an important distinction remains.
The rating applies to the planning stage, not a completed assessment of the estate’s actual environmental performance after full occupancy.
Further reviews will be required during construction and operations.
The developer must therefore demonstrate that the environmental strategies recognized on paper are implemented and sustained in practice.
GREEN CERTIFICATION CREATES A LONG-TERM TEST
The five-star BERDE recognition is particularly important because sustainability performance does not end when a project receives its initial certification.
A community may incorporate green spaces, drainage systems and other environmental features into its master plan.
But maintaining those systems requires investment, monitoring and consistent property management.
Southlinks will need to demonstrate how its plans translate into functioning infrastructure and measurable outcomes.
Important considerations include water management, energy efficiency, landscape maintenance and the environmental effects of construction.
Wong has acknowledged that the planning-stage certification is only one part of a longer development process.
The company must still deliver its commitments through construction and subsequent operations.
For prospective buyers, that distinction matters because a design-stage sustainability rating should not be interpreted as proof that every promised facility is already complete.
RESIDENTIAL LOT TURNOVERS TARGET JANUARY 2027
Height Realty expects to complete land development by December 2026.
The company plans to begin turning over completed residential lots in January 2027.
The schedule marks an important transition from site development toward actual residential ownership and construction activity.
For buyers, lot turnover is a significant milestone because it can influence decisions about home construction, financing and long-term relocation plans.
However, the handover of residential lots does not necessarily mean that every community amenity will be operational at the same time.
The Southlinks Promenade and golf range have separate 2027 opening targets.
Their specific opening dates have not been verified.
Prospective buyers should therefore distinguish between lot turnover schedules, infrastructure completion and the opening of individual lifestyle facilities.
PROPERTY CONSULTANT SEES POTENTIAL IN THE ALABANG MARKET
Property consultant David Leechiu has expressed optimism about residential investment opportunities south of Metro Manila.
During the Southlinks media briefing, Leechiu pointed to the substantial pricing difference between upscale residential communities in Alabang and those located in more established high-value districts such as Makati.
He suggested that the valuation gap could create opportunities for buyers considering premium residential properties in the southern metropolitan area.
However, his comments represent a market assessment rather than a guarantee that property prices will increase.
Real estate values can be influenced by financing costs, infrastructure investment, supply and demand, economic conditions and location-specific factors.
A residential development’s future performance also depends on construction quality, neighborhood management and the availability of essential services.
For buyers considering Southlinks or comparable estates, independent property valuation and careful financial planning remain important.
WHY SOUTH METRO CONTINUES TO ATTRACT PROPERTY DEVELOPERS
The Daang Hari–Alabang corridor has become an established location for residential communities, commercial centers and lifestyle developments.
The area offers access to shopping destinations, schools, hospitals and business districts across southern Metro Manila and neighboring Cavite.
Southlinks’ location may appeal to buyers who want proximity to urban services while living in a lower-density residential environment.
The property’s design emphasizes open spaces and neighborhood amenities as part of its competitive positioning.
However, potential buyers must also consider traffic conditions, travel requirements, infrastructure availability and the ongoing costs of maintaining a property in a premium estate.
These practical considerations can significantly affect the long-term experience of living in a planned residential community.
INDEPENDENT REPORTING CONFIRMS THE DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE
The Philippine Star reported on October 19 that Southlinks is preparing its retail and recreation expansion alongside the scheduled January 2027 residential turnover.
The report confirmed the planned supermarket, five retail spaces, 20-bay golf range and extensive open-space allocation.
Bilyonaryo News Channel also covered the development on October 17, highlighting Height Realty’s focus on combining shopping, sports and wellness amenities within the community.
The reports reinforce the announced project scope and timeline.
However, these publications largely reflect information presented during the developer’s media briefing.
They should not be interpreted as independent construction inspections or confirmation that all facilities are already completed.
The developer’s future execution will determine whether the announced plans are delivered on schedule.
THE BIGGER QUESTION: CAN SOUTHLINKS DELIVER ITS LIFESTYLE PROMISE?
Southlinks Estate’s planned expansion illustrates how premium residential developers are increasingly competing through lifestyle and community features.
Instead of marketing residential lots solely on location and land value, developers are emphasizing convenience, recreation, wellness and environmental planning.
For Southlinks, the new promenade and golf range could strengthen its appeal to families seeking access to shopping and leisure facilities near their homes.
The five-star BERDE District planning rating also provides a distinctive sustainability credential.
But the development still faces important milestones.
Land development must be completed.
Residential lots must be turned over.
The retail and golf facilities must open.
And environmental commitments must be maintained as the community develops.
Southlinks Estate is positioning itself as a premium community where shopping, golf, sports and open spaces are part of everyday residential life.
But the real measure of success will not be the number of planned amenities or the prestige of an initial green certification.
It will be whether Height Realty can deliver these features on schedule and sustain their quality over time.
As Southlinks prepares to welcome its first lot owners in January 2027, one question remains: Will its retail promenade, high-tech golf range and five-star sustainable design become a new benchmark for South Metro living — or will the biggest test begin when residents finally move in?
