HDB RENTAL BLOCKS (Demolition and Redevelopment)

Encik Othman bin Haron Eusofe asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the progress of the programme to demolish Housing and Development Board rental apartments with high vacancies; (b) what are the problems encountered; and (c) when will the land recovered under this programme be developed and what will be the nature of the proposed development.

Dr Lee Boon Yang (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, the exercise to relocate tenants in rental blocks commenced in November 1986. Tenants in 369 blocks have been notified of the relocation exercise. The 369 blocks consist of 40,168 units, of which 25,059 are occupied.

As at 11th March 1987, a total of 5,835 affected tenants have registered to purchase home ownership flats whereas 6,064 tenants have registered to rent another flat. Of the 11,899 cases registered, 3,467 tenants have already been allocated alternative flats, out of which 1,043 in sold flats and 2,424 in rental flats.

Sir, the blocks will be demolished progressively as and when all tenants in the blocks have been rehoused.

Sir, at present the HDB has not experienced any major problems in the relocation exercise as there are sufficient rental and home ownership flats to meet the demand from tenants affected by the exercise.

When the land recovered under this programme reaches a sizeable parcel, it will be redeveloped.

The general objective of the redevelopment, Sir, is to upgrade the old estates to approximate current standards. The land could be used to build better flats or other facilities for the old estates.