STUDIO APARTMENTS (Demand)

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STUDIO APARTMENTS:

(Demand): 16.

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the take-up rate for studio apartments to date; (b) has there been an increased demand lately; and (c) when will more studio apartments be made available and how many more will be made available to cater to the expected demand.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, HDB introduced the Studio Apartment (SA) scheme in 1998 to provide a customised housing option for the elderly. There are nine SA projects to-date. The first six projects, comprising 936 SA units in standalone blocks, were fully sold.

HDB is currently building another 303 SA units, which are integrated with other

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flat types within the same block, at three SERS replacement sites in Geylang, Bukit Merah and Queenstown. The SA units in Geylang that were not required by SERS lessees were offered in the October 2004 Balloting Exercise and had been fully taken up. Under the August 2005 Balloting Exercise, HDB offered 187 SAs in Bukit Merah and Queenstown for sale.

As this followed the recent relaxation of the purchase conditions for SAs, the response has been very good, with a total of 825 applications received at the end of the application exercise on 19th September 2005.

Going forward, to meet the needs of our ageing population, HDB will provide SAs as part of its regular building plan for new flats and offer them under the Build-To-Order system, so that they are built to demand. We will announce more details later.

Dr Lily Neo (Jalan Besar): May I ask the Parliamentary Secretary what will the new studio apartments be priced at? Will they be priced at more affordable and attractive prices to the majority of elderly Singaporeans? Will he also consider making the lower floor studio apartments or rooms for rental on a daily basis for those elderly who have big families to accommodate them during weekends? Lastly, will he improve the concept of the independent living and self-reliance concept of studio apartments and ensure that the centres of activities are there for the new studio apartments, to promote healthy living and for the participants of the centres?

Mr Speaker: You have one-and-a-half minutes, Dr Maliki.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman: Sir, the pricing approach for SAs is the same. As it is now, HDB will price them according to their attributes, the terms and conditions of sale and the HDB

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development costs. Just to give a range, the prices of 35 square metre units range from $59,000 to $61,000, and those of 45 square metre units range from $75,000 to $77,000.

On the third question on the concept of independent living and facilitating better interaction and better opportunities for the participation of the elderly to live in, the Government's approach is to encourage ageing in place. We recognise that it is an important concept. That is why the options of either a standalone SA or an integrated SA is being mooted right now. The whole idea is to allow the elderly to live as closely to their children as possible so that they will be able to continue living their life for as long as they can.

Secondly, they are located near community facilities. In standalone SAs, for example, we have neighbourhood links that are run by VWOs that will provide the necessary social services that are required by the elderly citizens.

3.00 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[ Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 17-18 and 23-26 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 19-22 have been postponed to the next available sitting of Parliament. ]

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