REDEVELOPMENT OF SIT FLATS IN DELTA

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there is any plan to redevelop the old estate comprising all the Singapore Improvement Trust flats in Delta into a new housing estate with modern amenities and facilities; and (b) whether the Housing and Development Board will convert all the one-room flats in Delta into bigger flats.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB has a long-term plan to redevelop the old housing estates comprising all the Singapore Improvement Trust flats in Delta Constituency into a new housing estate. The timing of this redevelopment programme will depend on when the SIT flats are vacated by existing tenants.

Once the 1-room flats in Delta Constituency are vacated by tenants, the HDB will either convert them into bigger flats or demolish the blocks to make way for new blocks comprising bigger flats.

Mr Yeo Choo Kok (Delta): ( In Mandarin): Sir, under what conditions will the present occupants be moved out for the HDB to demolish such flats. The Minister has not replied to the second part of my question, ie, whether the HDB has any plan to convert the present 1-room flats into bigger flats.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: I have answered the second part of the question. I said that once the 1-room flats in Delta Constituency are vacated by tenants, the HDB will either convert them into bigger flats or demolish the blocks to make way for new blocks comprising bigger flats.

On the supplementary question by the Member, I think the rule is roughly like this. When more than 50% of the tenants in a block have vacated their flats, then HDB will take action to resettle the remaining tenants.

Mr Yeo Choo Kok: ( In Mandarin): I would like to ask the Minister whether the HDB will take any steps to encourage or persuade SIT tenants to move out earlier or to compel them to move out.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think HDB has introduced various schemes to encourage the tenants to be home owners. I hope the tenants in the rental flats will take advantage of the concessions granted by HDB and move out and become home owners.