Private Estates Selected for Estate Upgrading Programme

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development (a) on average, how many estates are selected for upgrading each year since the introduction of the Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP); and (b) whether the Ministry will increase the momentum of the EUP for private estates.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP) for private estates was launched in 2000. To-date, we have selected 54 private estates over eight batches for upgrading. This has benefited more than 41,000 households. Each batch is launched about two years apart and comprises, on average, six to seven private estates.

My Ministry will soon invite nominations for EUP Batch 9. As a community-driven programme, it takes time to engage the residents for feedback and ideas. There is also a need to coordinate amongst different public agencies to consider and approve the various EUP work items, and to factor in the availability of resources in the industry to implement the EUP projects. We will try to extend the benefits to more old estates speedily, but the pace has to take into account these challenges.