Flats Ineligible for Lift Upgrading Programme

Mr Ong Teng Koon asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will provide an update on the number of HDB blocks island-wide that are currently ineligible for the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP); (b) which HDB blocks in Sembawang GRC are ineligible for the LUP; and (c) whether the Ministry will review the criteria for selection of HDB blocks for LUP.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: We are entering the final stage of the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). This is a massive $5.5 billion programme involving around 5,000 HDB blocks.

Blocks are eligible for the LUP if they do not exceed the cost cap of $30,000 per benefiting unit. HDB needs to maintain this criterion to ensure cost effectiveness and financial prudence.

HDB tries its best to extend the LUP to as many blocks as possible. However, despite its best efforts, there will still be some blocks for which the LUP cannot be offered due to the high costs involved. There are about 200 blocks deemed not feasible for LUP. These blocks are spread island-wide, including Sembawang.

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