The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has announced that it will raise the construction standards of new buildings with the aim to integrate universal design features which are environment-friendly and will help all residents.
According to a report by The Straits Times, the revised Accessibility Code will include family-friendly features such as family toilets, family parking lots and nursing rooms.
The BCA has also advised builders to adhere to the code when developing new properties.
At the same time, the S$40 million Accessibility Fund, which was supposed to run until 2011 has been extended for another five years to 2016. The fund enables current building owners to apply for grants to upgrade their projects’ basic accessibility features and make them more user-friendly.
The latest initiative is in line with a wider movement to develop Singapore into a ‘City for all Ages’, an inclusive society that gives priority to an ageing population.
The ageing issue is “very real not only in Singapore but in other cities as well,” noted John Keung (pictured), BCA’s Chief Executive, adding that “everyone has a role to play as we work towards a friendly built environment.”
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