LAND LEASE FOR RETIREMENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

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LAND LEASE FOR RETIREMENT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: 15.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for National Development (a) what has been the response from developers for the 30-year land lease for the development of retirement housing; and (b) if he will give an assessment on the need for retirement villages in Singapore.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for National Development): The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has made available a site at Jalan Jurong Kechil since 2006, where a retirement housing development can be built. This site has a tenure of 30 years

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instead of the usual 99 years for residential land. This will reduce land costs for developers, which in turn could translate to more affordable housing for the elderly. While there has been some market interest in the site, no bids have been received thus far.

Retirement housing is but one of many possible housing options for senior citizens. For example, private sector developers have offered adjoining apartments that allow seniors to live next to their grown-up children. There are also Studio Apartments for senior citizens in HDB estates. While Government will facilitate new retirement housing options, we should let the market forces decide on the housing typologies that meet the needs of seniors.

I would also like to point out that Singapore is unique in that a large segment of our population owns their homes. Therefore, we have the opportunity to support ageing-in-place within these homes that the seniors already own. In fact, URA’s recent Lifestyle Survey 2009 and the Concept Plan 2011 Online Survey showed that nearly 80% of the senior respondents prefer to live in regular housing, rather than more dedicated forms of senior housing like Studio Apartments and retirement villages. They prefer to remain in the homes that they already own and age in an environment that they are familiar with alongside other generations. We will also continue working with other agencies to further improve the hardware and software to support ageing-in-place.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[ Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 16 and

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18 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question No. 17 has been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament. ]

*Cols.601-604.