Polling for Neighbourhood Renewal and Home Improvement Programmes for Hougang SMC

Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many approved Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) and Home Improvement Programme (HIP) projects are currently awaiting polling; and (b) when will the polling for NRP and HIP start for Hougang SMC.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: Twenty-six Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and 25 Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) projects are pending polling and consensus gathering respectively. They include one HIP and one NRP project in Hougang SMC. Both were announced on 4 August 2012.

For the Hougang HIP project, HDB called a tender in October 2012 and expects to award it soon.Thereafter, the project's Working Committee will conduct straw polls or walkabouts to survey residents' response, prepare the polling brochures, and construct mock-up flats, in preparation for polling. This process typically takes about six months.

For the Hougang NRP project, the Working Committee will need to appoint the design consultant and design the improvement items. It will conduct consensus gathering when it is ready.