DESCRIPTION OF HDB FLATS

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board will still be describing its flats by their existing names, e.g. 3-room flat, 4-room flat, after renovation and upgrading; and, if so, whether the HDB will consider describing them similar to the way private apartments and flats are called, so as to reflect a more up-market image.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Housing and Development Board differentiates the various flat types for sale into 3-room, 4-room, 5-room and Executive flats. This classification has become familiar to all Singaporeans and provides a good guide to applicants of the size and design of the flats they are applying to purchase. The classification has served HDB applicants well. HDB will continue to use this classification for describing the various flat types available.

In the future, however, for flat designs that allow flexibility for partitioning into rooms, HDB will classify these flats by area rather than room types.

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (Yuhua): Sir, after upgrading, will HDB allow the neighbourhood to give a new name to their own neighbourhood?

Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is a perfectly reasonable request. If neighbourhoods or precincts that have been upgraded make the proposal to HDB, I will certainly ask HDB to consider it and, where possible, to grant the request for the neighbourhood to have their own name to add to the identity.