SALE OF UNITS AT SKYTERRACE AT DAWSON

SALE OF UNITS AT SKYTERRACE AT DAWSON: 6.

Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether he will provide an update on the sales of paired units at SkyTerrace@Dawson that facilitate multi-generation living; (b) how many applicants did the HDB receive for the 65 paired units that were launched; (c) what are some of the amenities and planned social spaces in this new estate that will cater to the specific needs of the elderly as well as facilitate inter-generation social interaction; and (d) will the HDB be planning for more of such paired units.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien (for the Minister for National Development): Under the Multi-Generation Living Scheme (MGLS), in SkyTerrace@Dawson, HDB pairs Studio Apartments with 4- and 5-room flats so that extended families can live together in separate but adjacent units. Applications under the MGLS closed on 28th December 2009 with a total of 408 applications for the 65 paired units. We will study the response to the scheme, taking into consideration feedback from the public, to decide if the scheme should be extended to future projects. The MGLS complements existing HDB policy to encourage young couples to live near their parents for mutual support.

Currently, those who intend to stay with or near their parents enjoy double the chances when balloting for a new flat.

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Those buying a resale flat can apply for the higher CPF Housing Grant of $40,000. HDB is building Studio Apartments to cater to the housing needs of the elderly and to facilitate their integration within the community. HDB estates are designed to be barrier-free and with a variety of social spaces to encourage inter-generational interaction. These enable the elderly to pursue an active and independent lifestyle. Similarly, SkyTerrace@Dawson will have community and recreational facilities such as precinct pavilions, children's playground, elderly fitness corner and tai-chi courts, catering to both the young and elderly.

Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan (Nominated Member): Thank you, Sir. I have three supplementary questions. The first, sociologically, this seems to be the ideal living arrangement as we move towards a greying population to have inter-generational living in separate but households that are adjacent to each other. May I ask if the Ministry has any initiatives to promote this option for Singaporeans in the application of HDB flats? My second question has to do with living arrangements for older Singaporeans. We have come up with the Studio Apartments. Has the Ministry done a survey to solicit feedback from older Singaporeans? Is this the preferred living arrangement for them? My final supplementary question is related to perceptions. I have heard from the ground that there is a public perception from the younger Singaporeans that they may not want to have homes that are situated within estates where Studio Apartments predominate because of whatever reasons. I would like the Ministry to elaborate on this – if you have data and if it is true, then, what can be done to alleviate these barriers?

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Thank you for the supplementary questions. We are

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preparing for an ageing population and we are preparing it in various ways. We have, for example, built Studio Apartments that are stand-alone, one or two blocks in the middle-aged towns or the mature estates. We are beginning to build some Studio Apartments close by or adjacent to 4- or 5-room or the regular flats. This is to allow options, to give choices to Singaporeans. Through our understanding and our survey, there are elderly who prefer to live on their own and there is a big proportion who prefer to stay with their children. There are some who prefer to stay in a town that they are familiar with. So even though the children may have grown up and moved away, they are not prepared to move to a new flat or be it a Studio Apartment that is near to their children because they are familiar with the place that they have spent most of their lives in.

There are different behaviour and preferences, and I think it is our objective to have options given to Singaporeans. So we have built stand alone studio apartments and studio apartments next to the flats. But I think there is one common theme that cuts across these options and it is that we do not want to see isolation of the elderly. In the various forms of housing that we have provided, we make sure that there are integration, social and recreational facilities for inter-generational use – the elderly, the young and the adults.

In response to your third question, about whether there is any perception that young Singaporeans may not wish to stay near the elderly. My response would be that we would not want to see an enclave of elderly and elderly only. It will be part and parcel of every Singaporean resident staying in HDB estates, to see various income segment, age group as well as family background or career background, staying together. That, in a way, is the value of HDB estates that we see this real integration of different

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segments of Singaporeans, regardless of age or income. And I think that Singaporeans have come to accept that as a part of HDB estate living.