HDB FLATS IN OLDER HOUSING ESTATES (Building of more)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for National Development whether there are plans to step up the building of more Housing and Development Board flats in older housing estates.

The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Lim Hng Kiang) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the older housing estates the hon. Member is referring to are, I presume, those mature estates in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bishan, Bukit Merah, Geylang, Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown and Toa Payoh, where HDB has occasionally offered new flats for sale. These housing estates are almost totally built-up, and the land still available for public housing is very limited. Any new flats which come up for sale are built on in-fill developments in isolated sites. Therefore, new flats can be built in these older estates only when suitable in-fill sites are available for development.

Dr S. Vasoo (Tanjong Pagar GRC): Sir, I understand there are residents who want to upgrade themselves and want to stay in the neighbourhood. Are there plans for decantation and the provision of opportunities for them to upgrade in the older city areas?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: HDB has a scheme which gives residents in the mature estates twice the priority for new flats in their estate compared to residents from outside the estate. But, as he knows, the number of applicants for flats in the mature estates is very large. So even though they have twice the probability they still end up with a fairly slim chance.

Dr Vasoo: In the light that there are more demands for upgrading of flats by residents in the mature estates, are there other alternatives, besides the upgrading programme that is being proposed? Or would the upgrading programme be hastened in the older mature estates?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: The upgrading programme is targeted at the older estates. The sequence of the upgrading gives priority to those estates which are oldest. The Member can see that in the scheduling of the upgrading programme, we schedule those estates which are oldest first. That will be the main programme by which people staying in mature estates will see their flats upgraded and enhanced in value. If they want to upgrade to a new and bigger flat, then they must apply for the new flats which are being built in their estate and although we give them priority, compared to non-residents, as I said, the demand is very, very high.

Dr Vasoo: Sir, would there be plans to buy back older flats and provide people with alternatives to better upgraded flats in the near future?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: HDB is considering many schemes. If the Member has any suggestion on how such schemes can be implemented, we will be happy to listen to him.

Dr Toh Keng Kiat (Nominated Member): Sir, may I ask the Minister whether there are any plans to demolish low-rise apartments and rebuild on the same site to maximise land use?

Mr Lim Hng Kiang: As I said, HDB considers many possibilities and we will be happy to evaluate any new ideas that the Member may have.