Singapore - HDB unveils housing roadmap

The Housing Board (HDB) has unveiled its first roadmap spelling out its key priorities over the next five to 10 years.

It was developed to enable HDB "to deliver a better living environment and meet the evolving lifestyle aspirations of our residents", chief executive Cheong Koon Hean said yesterday.

Under the roadmap, HDB will focus on three thrusts, mainly developing well-designed, sustainable and community- centric towns.

Dr Cheong was speaking at the annual HDB Awards held at Marina Bay Sands.

She said the roadmap will "build upon the good work" that HDB has been doing, while also giving greater clarity on what it wants to focus on.

Good design, she added, is crucial to an environment's liveability and pleasantness. This means having access to transport systems, better open spaces and a flat layout which optimises the use of space.

HDB has collaborated with private-sector architects to design certain flats, and it will strive to introduce fresh and innovative ideas, both in new towns, such as Bidadari, and older estates.

Asked if this would mean higher flat prices, Dr Cheong said: "When you are more productive and when you do new designs, they do not necessarily cost more. It just optimises what you have."

HDB said it will focus on making buildings energy-efficient and green, such as by improving natural ventilation and installing waste-water recycling facilities.

Research by the new HDB Building Research Institute will drive initiatives such as the use of solar power in housing blocks. Lessons learnt from test projects will be applied to other towns.

Dr Cheong said HDB also wants to create platforms for residents to bond and "take ownership of the town they live in".

She acknowledged the existence of initiatives such as the Good Neighbour Awards, and added: "This is only the start. We can do much more."

She announced that HDB's construction volume will be around 60,000 to 80,000 units per year for the next three years.

While HDB could not provide more figures by press time, it said this volume is larger than in previous years.

Last night, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan handed out 15 awards to companies for exemplary performance in the design and construction of public-housing projects.

Joy Fang

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