Latest news with #HousingDevelopmentBoard
Hans India
29-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
CM seeks Singapore knowhow in housing
Singapore: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday underscored the critical need for continued cooperation between Singapore and Andhra Pradesh, emphasising that the state's new capital, Amaravati, is being built with a blend of modern infrastructure and future-oriented thinking. Naidu's remarks came during his second day in Singapore, where he undertook an extensive two-hour walk-through of the Bidadari Housing Project, praising its innovative and eco-friendly approach to community housing development. The Chief Minister lauded the Bidadari project's "thoughtful integration of nature, heritage, and community living," calling it a powerful example for cities worldwide. He affirmed that Amaravati is being developed following globally recognized best practices and drawing on international expertise to ensure it embodies both innovation and sustainability. He acknowledged that while the Government of Singapore had already provided the master plan for Amaravati, and the World Bank is now a key development partner, "certain past events had created distance" between the two governments. He stated that his current visit is squarely aimed at restoring and strengthening that partnership, expressing hope for ongoing collaboration. During Naidu's visit to the Bidadari Estate, a development housing over 10,000 families, Singaporean officials presented their "City in a Garden" concept. This included design features that preserved mature trees, protected natural water bodies, and emphasised walkability and connectivity – aspects that deeply impressed the Chief Minister. Naidu also held discussions on building quality, affordable housing in Andhra Pradesh's urban and semi-urban areas. He commended the Housing Development Board (HDB) for its pivotal role in planning and executing Bidadari, which spans 250 acres and incorporates extensive green infrastructure and public amenities. He was particularly impressed by how Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) transformed a former cremation site into a serene and welcoming urban park, showcasing how even sensitive spaces can be reimagined for community benefit. Following the estate visit, the Chief Minister met with senior officials from HDB, URA, Singapore Corporation Enterprise, and the World Bank. Their discussions primarily focused on potential collaboration in Andhra Pradesh's upcoming urban housing projects, especially those within Amaravati. Naidu extended an invitation to Singapore's Housing Development Board to participate as a development partner, sharing Andhra Pradesh's urban vision, strategic goals, and ongoing initiatives. He reiterated his praise for the Bidadari model as an inspiring example for Andhra Pradesh as it works to build liveable, inclusive cities for the future.
CNA
09-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
Singapore's housing demand to keep rising amid lifestyle shifts, ageing population: URA, HDB
SINGAPORE: Housing demand in Singapore is expected to continue rising, driven by an ageing population, smaller households and changing demographic patterns and lifestyle preferences. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Housing and Development Board (HDB) said these trends were key considerations in the Draft Master Plan 2025 released last month, which outlines plans to build at least 80,000 public and private homes over the next 10 to 15 years. More housing developments are needed in the long run to meet the growing demand and adapt to changing population needs, the two agencies said in response to CNA's queries. Housing plans are driven by a variety of factors, they said. "These include meeting strong near-term demand, ensuring a steady supply to support a stable property market, as well as responding to evolving demographic trends and lifestyle preferences amongst the population. "At the same time, we remain focused in ensuring that housing remains accessible in the long term for current and future generations," URA and HDB said. "We also take into account a range of possible future scenarios, including socioeconomic developments and shifts in the global environment." Social and lifestyle changes are already contributing to strong housing demand, and these patterns are likely to persist, the agencies said. For example, increasing life expectancy means homes are occupied for longer. At the same time, more young couples and singles now want their own homes instead of staying with their extended families. This trend is reflected in Singapore's shrinking household sizes – from 3.96 in 1995 to 3.09 in 2024. Demand is also being driven by "echo boomers" – those born in the late 1980s to 1990s – reaching the age of home ownership, URA and HDB said. The agencies said the new housing plans 'will be progressively implemented', and that the government will continue monitoring the market closely to 'calibrate housing supply accordingly'. POPULATION GROWTH Experts interviewed by CNA agreed that housing demand remains elevated despite a falling birth rate, largely because of demographic and lifestyle changes. One major trend, they said, is a 'significant mindset shift' towards forming smaller or single-person households. Another factor is overall population growth. As of June 2024, Singapore's total population stood at 6.04 million – a 2 per cent rise from a year ago – mainly due to a 5 per cent increase in the non-resident population. This is the first time Singapore's population has crossed the 6-million mark. This growth, even though largely driven by non-residents, has contributed to increased demand for private housing, both for purchase and rental, said Dr Woo Jun Jie, senior lecturer at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, who researches urban governance. Looking ahead, experts believe Singapore's housing strategy must accommodate a potentially larger foreign workforce to counterbalance the country's falling birth rate and an ageing population. 'Although the government has not wanted to issue a population 'target' since the poorly received Population White Paper in 2013, it is clear that with declining fertility and an ageing population, the Singapore resident population will decline in the near future without immigration,' said Singapore University of Social Sciences Associate Professor of Economics Walter Theseira. 'The Singapore workforce will likewise decline without foreign employment inflows.' It "seems clear" that the government would not be planning for a declining workforce. This means that when it comes to housing, the plan is to cater to both permanent and non-permanent immigration, Assoc Prof Theseira said. The Population White Paper released in 2013 estimated that Singapore's population could reach between 6.5 million and 6.9 million by 2030. The projection sparked a public outcry and the government clarified that this was a planning parameter, not a forecast or target. Since then, the government has said that it does not have a population target in mind. In a January 2023 parliamentary reply, the Ministry of National Development reiterated that 'infrastructure planning in Singapore is not based on a population target'. WHERE THE NEW HOMES WILL BE The latest master plan includes new neighbourhoods in areas such as Newton, Paterson, Dover-Medway along Dover Road, the former site of Singapore Racecourse in Kranji, as well as Paya Lebar Air Base and the Sembawang Shipyard area. Experts said decisions on housing types in each area are guided by factors such as land value, allowable density and the availability of land. For example, prime areas with high land prices like Newton and Paterson are slated for private housing, in line with development costs and demand for high-end residences, said professor of finance and real estate Qian Wenlan from the National University of Singapore's business school. In contrast, districts like Dover-Medway are 'relatively more affordable'. 'With existing commercial and academic hubs nearby (in the Greater One-North area), a mix of public and private housing ensures a broader spectrum of residents, helping to form a diverse catchment area for these hubs,' she said. Assoc Prof Theseira added that public housing projects in Singapore are typically large-scale developments with high density to justify investment in infrastructure like a town centre, polyclinic, hawker centre and public transport. 'Thus, we generally no longer develop standalone small blocks of public housing and we need a larger neighbourhood or area to develop. The land values must also be low enough that after subsidies, they are still affordable as public housing,' he said. 'The purely private development areas tend to have one or more factors that mean public housing development is infeasible.' Meanwhile, these new neighbourhoods will also have to fit into the government's broader plans, such as a "decentralisation strategy" to create economic areas beyond the city centre and bring jobs closer to homes, said Professor Qian. For example, Bishan town centre will be redeveloped into a business hub with 200,000 sq m of new office space. Plans also include a new hawker centre integrated with a revamped bus interchange, a polyclinic and a new mall. Mixed-use developments that include homes, retail and dining have been proposed for neighbourhoods such as Newton and Paterson. Prof Qian said these new towns are designed to maximise land-use efficiency, featuring high-rise living integrated with amenities. While many of the new homes will be located in less densely populated areas, such as Kranji and Sembawang, neighbourhoods like Bishan may see slight increases in density with upcoming redevelopment and Build-to-Order projects. Still, 'higher density may not necessarily translate into more crowdedness', said Dr Woo.
AsiaOne
06-07-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
HDB to launch first BTO project in Sembawang North in July offering 775 units, Singapore News
The first Housing Development Board (HDB) Build-to-Order (BTO) project in the new Sembawang North neighbourhood will be launched in the upcoming July 2025 BTO sales exercise. Sembawang Beacon, a 775-unit, 53ha development, is expected to be ready in about three years' time and will offer flat types ranging from 2-room Flexi to 5-room and 3Gen flats, HDB said in a release on Sunday (July 6). The design of Sembawang Beacon will draw inspiration from the area's rich maritime heritage, it added, as Sembawang was once home to the British Naval Base in the 1920s, where distinctive black-and-white houses served as quarters for naval officers. Hence, the residential blocks and drop-off porches will feature white facades outlined by bold black frames, incorporating elements reminiscent of colonial houses. The maritime theme extends to the development's recreational spaces, including a playground featuring nautical motifs and elements such as a lighthouse play structure. According to HDB, residents in the development will enjoy access to public transport and amenities such as a neighbourhood park, the Sembawang MRT station as well as the nearby Sembawang Mart shopping mall, which houses a supermarket and retail shops. It added that residents can also look forward to a new 1ha park with playground and fitness stations, as well as an extensive network of cycling paths and walkways in the near future. HDB noted that Sembawang Beacon marks the first step in its plans to transform Sembawang North and when fully developed, the new neighbourhood will provide close to 10,000 housing units, comprising about 8,000 BTO flats and 2,000 private housing units. Alongside Sembawang Beacon, other projects in the same July exercise will include those in Bukit Merah, Bukit Panjang, Clementi, Tampines, Toa Payoh, and Woodlands, offering a total of about 5,500 units. In a post on Sunday (July 6), Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat shared about the new launch, stating that HDB and NParks are "working closely with partner agencies to ensure that residents can enjoy convenient access to various amenities, lush green spaces, and well-connected public transport nodes". He added that the Government remains committed to ensuring a strong public housing supply, "with at least 50,000 new flats to be built in the next three years to meet Singaporeans' housing needs". [embed] candicecai@
Straits Times
26-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Woman narrowly escapes injury after toilet ceiling collapses in 58-year-old Queenstown flat
Seah Jun De The Straits Times June 25, 2025 A woman narrowly avoided injury last Sunday when a chunk of concrete fell from the toilet ceiling in her flat at Block 81 Commonwealth Close in Queenstown. After reading a report about spalling concrete last week, Ms Ho Ai Ling, 52, began keeping a close watch on a crack in her toilet ceiling and avoided standing directly beneath while showering. She told Lianhe Zaobao that she escaped injury as she was standing close to the wall when the concrete collapsed. "I read a report on Saturday about a home in Yishun where the ceiling collapsed and the man had to get more than 10 stitches on his head. I reminded myself and my roommates to be careful, and it saved my life the next day." The livestreamer and actress added that she was fortunate the ceiling fan was off, as falling debris could have struck the blades and caused a more serious incident. The flat was built in 1967 and is 58 years old. Since moving in 14 years ago, she has repeatedly dealt with cracks and peeling paint on the toilet ceiling, she said. On June 18, she called the Housing Development Board (HDB) after discovering that the toilet ceiling had bulged again. The ceiling had clear signs of damage before part of it collapsed. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO However, before an inspection could take place, the ceiling collapsed. Ms Ho said that HDB had helped to repair the toilet ceiling in 2012, and she has repaired it herself many times since then. She also installed a ceiling fan to keep the toilet dry, but it did not have the intended effect. "I saw that the bulging was serious and I couldn't fix it myself anymore, so I contacted HDB." During a call with HDB last week, the agency agreed to bear half of her repair costs under the Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme, said Ms Ho. "After the concrete collapsed, the authorities said they would come back on July 3 to see if there were any other parts of the ceiling that needed repair too." Chairman of the Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES) civil and structural technical committee David Ng, told the Chinese daily that such repairs are complex and should be handled by professionals. He added that the homeowner's repair work may provide temporary relief, but if the real cause of the peeling is not found, the problem may persist. Residents can regularly check the ceiling surface for signs of damage, and take waterproofing measures such as applying waterproof paint or sealants. Keeping the toilet well-ventilated can also help prevent damage to the ceiling, he added. According to the HDB website, homeowners are responsible for preventing and repairing cement spalling in their homes. However, if the affected area is large, a contractor should be hired to repair it as soon as possible. Click here to contribute a story or submit it to our WhatsApp Get more of Stomp's latest updates by following us on:
AsiaOne
26-06-2025
- General
- AsiaOne
Toilet ceiling in Queenstown flat collapses as woman showers, Singapore News
A woman narrowly avoided injury last Sunday when a chunk of concrete fell from the toilet ceiling in her flat at Block 81 Commonwealth Close in Queenstown. After reading a report about spalling concrete last week, Ho Ai Ling, 52, began keeping a close watch on a crack in her toilet ceiling and avoided standing directly beneath while showering. She told Lianhe Zaobao that she escaped injury as she was standing close to the wall when the concrete collapsed. "I read a report on Saturday about a home in Yishun where the ceiling collapsed and the man had to get more than 10 stitches on his head. I reminded myself and my roommates to be careful, and it saved my life the next day." The livestreamer and actress added that she was fortunate the ceiling fan was off, as falling debris could have struck the blades and caused a more serious incident. The flat was built in 1967 and is 58 years old. Since moving in 14 years ago, she has repeatedly dealt with cracks and peeling paint on the toilet ceiling, she said. On June 18, she called the Housing Development Board (HDB) after discovering that the toilet ceiling had bulged again. However, before an inspection could take place, the ceiling collapsed. Ho said that HDB had helped to repair the toilet ceiling in 2012, and she has repaired it herself many times since then. She also installed a ceiling fan to keep the toilet dry, but it did not have the intended effect. "I saw that the bulging was serious and I couldn't fix it myself anymore, so I contacted HDB." During a call with HDB last week, the agency agreed to bear half of her repair costs under the Goodwill Repair Assistance Scheme, said Ho. "After the concrete collapsed, the authorities said they would come back on July 3 to see if there were any other parts of the ceiling that needed repair too." Chairman of the Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES) civil and structural technical committee David Ng, told the Chinese daily that such repairs are complex and should be handled by professionals. He added that the homeowner's repair work may provide temporary relief, but if the real cause of the peeling is not found, the problem may persist. Residents can regularly check the ceiling surface for signs of damage, and take waterproofing measures such as applying waterproof paint or sealants. Keeping the toilet well-ventilated can also help prevent damage to the ceiling, he added. According to the HDB website, homeowners are responsible for preventing and repairing cement spalling in their homes. However, if the affected area is large, a contractor should be hired to repair it as soon as possible. [[nid:719319]] This article was first published in The New Paper . Permission required for reproduction.
