ST : Housing Board estates to get $10b boost

19 Feb 2011,
Housing Board estates to get $10b boost
By Cheryl Lim

A FUND of $10 billion has been earmarked for the upgrading of flats and estates over the next 10 years to try to preserve the value of Housing Board homes.

Up to $55,000 will be spent on each flat under the Home Improvement, Neighbourhood Renewal and Lift Upgrading programmes.

These initiatives cover a wide range of works, including repairing spalling concrete and leaky ceilings, upgrading toilets and lifts, and improving housing blocks and precinct facilities.

Around 50,000 flat owners will benefit this year, and a further 300,000 owners from next year to 2016.

Meanwhile, the second phase of the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) initiative that was announced last month will improve estates in Jurong Lake, East Coast and Hougang, home to around 700,000 residents in total.

Some of these residents will also benefit from the Home Improvement and Neighbourhood Renewal programmes.

The three mature estates will receive a $1 billion makeover phased in over the next five years as part of the second part of the ROH programme.

Detailed upgrading plans have been unveiled over the past few weeks.

Jurong Lake will see the creation of a new commercial hub spanning an area the size of 70 football fields.

Hougang town will host riverfront public housing and an integrated transport hub with a bus interchange, shops and private apartments.

East Coast's Bedok town centre will get a new mall and an air-conditioned bus interchange.

The ROH programme was unveiled in the 2007 National Day Rally.

The first phase covered Punggol, Yishun and Dawson precincts, where waterfront parks, cycling paths and designer Housing Board blocks are currently being developed.