To improve older HDB estates, the government will make three enhancements to its upgrading programmes, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan announced at the HDB Awards Dinner (pictured) on 10 September 2014.
Firstly, more homes will benefit from Home Improvement Programme (HIP) sooner. The HIP will be offered to another 100,000 flats next year and the pace will be ramped up from 35,000 to 50,000 flats a year. The complete selection of all eligible flats is expected by 2018.
The Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE), which is implemented with HIP, will also be stepped up.
Secondly, the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) will be extended to blocks built up to 1995. This will benefit an additional 100,000 households in over 1,300 blocks; mostly in middle-aged towns such as Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris and Tampines. Currently, NRP only covers blocks built up to 1989.
The NRP budget will be increased from $3,400 to $4,700 per flat to fund the additional upgrading works such as repainting the blocks.
Mr Khaw said, “This way, the NRP can better coordinate with the Town Council’s routine maintenance programme, to allow the blocks and precincts to be more comprehensively rejuvenated, without inconveniencing the residents twice.”
Lastly, HDB will introduce a new Selective Lift Replacement Programme (SLRP) to replace about 750 old lifts, which were installed between 1987 and 1997, with news ones that come with more energy-efficient motors, vision panels and infra-red doors with motion safety sensors.
These lifts are in barrier-free blocks and do not need upgrading under the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). When the Town Councils are ready to replace the lifts, HDB will co-pay for the replacement which will benefit about 33,000 households, living mostly in Choa Chu Kang and Pasir Ris towns.
Mr Khaw said this is the government’s approach to improving the lives of citizens. “Every new HDB town should be better than the old town and every old town should not be too far behind the new town. This way, we continue to raise the standard of living in our HDB towns, and the quality of life of all Singaporeans,” he said.
Photo by HDB
Muneerah Bee, Senior Journalist at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email muneerah@propertyguru.com.sg
