REDEVELOPMENT OF SIT FLAT SITE IN DELTA

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there are plans to redevelop the area in Delta on which low-rise Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) flats now stand; (b) what types of flats and facilities are included in the plans; and (c) whether the present tenants of the flats will be given priority in allocation of the new flats to be built on the site.

The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Lee Yock Suan) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, as we have limited land for housing in Singapore, the low-rise SIT flats in Delta will have to be redeveloped for high-rise blocks to enable better utilization of land. However, because the HDB has a very heavy building programme over the next few years, there are no immediate plans to redevelop the area in Delta.

All HDB tenants affected by redevelopment schemes are given priority to purchase or rent HDB flats available at the time when rehousing is required. We cannot allow tenants of demolished flats to be given priority in allocation of new flats to be built on the site since they must move out to enable the site to be redeveloped. However, in a large site like Delta where phased redevelopment may be carried out, and where new flats in earlier phases are available, those tenants affected in later phases may have the opportunity to opt for rehousing in the newly completed blocks.