LAND LEASES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF RETIREMENT HOMES

LAND LEASES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF RETIREMENT HOMES:

(Extension): 3.

Mr Laurence Wee Yoke Thong asked the Minister for National Development whether the Government will consider extending land leases to at least 60 years

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or 30 years plus another 30 years for the establishment of retirement homes or villages so as to provide more residential options for the elderly.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien) (for the Minister for National Development): Developers can already build retirement housing on any site zoned "Residential". They can also choose to build residential developments and customise the design and concept to target specific niche markets, including the elderly. For instance, some developers have introduced "dual-key" adjoining apartments in private condominiums.

In addition, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has made available a site at Jalan Jurong Kechil for sale on short tenure of 30 years. The developer has the flexibility to develop the site for retirement housing or conventional housing development. The shorter tenure of 30 years allowed for the site was intended to reduce the land costs, which could facilitate retirement housing development. We will study the suggestion to extend land leases to 60-year or 30+30-year tenures for such sites in future. HDB has also built Studio Apartments, which are custom-built for elderly living and made our public housing estates elderly friendly.

Mr Laurence Wee Yoke Thong (Nominated Member): Thank you for the Senior Minister of State's reply. We are now healthier and living longer. A number of older persons face loneliness which cut across all income groups. Retirement villages offer a great opportunity for them to interact. Sir, there is no supplementary question.