Under the Married Child Priority Scheme, first-time couples who apply for a new flat near their parents enjoy up to four times the success rate compared to regular public applicants.
NEWLYWEDS may soon get higher chances of buying popular Housing Board flats to live near their parents.
This was one of the key recommendations released by the 'Forum on HDB Heartware' on Friday.
Video Link - http://tinyurl.com/2ptg6o [The Straits Times Video News]
Launched in November 2006, the forum involved consultations with more than 1,000 Singaporeans on ways to build strong and cohesive HDB communities.
Under the thrust to support families, HDB will soon announce details to refine the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS).
Currently under the scheme, first-time couples who apply for a new flat near their parents, can enjoy up to four times the success rate in the balloting process compared to regular public applicants.
Forum committee members, headed by Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu, however, noted that the current demand for new flats in mature estates is very high.
As such, first-timers and MCPS applicants may not be successful in their flat applications despite their enhanced chances.
To address this, the Forum said the existing framework can be improved to give more priority to applicants who have been repeatedly unsuccessful in HDB's sales exercises.
No zero-sum game
However, the Forum also acknowledged that changing the priority framework is a zero-sum game, because setting aside more new flats for a small group would mean a smaller supply for other groups.
The Forum reasoned that 'while the priority schemes can help improve the chances of success for target groups, they cannot guarantee success for first-timers or MCPS applicants given the limited supply of new HDB flats'.
The Forum noted that such households can also pursue the option of buying resale HDB flats where first-timers are eligible for grants.
More family support measures
HDB will also introduce a family season parking scheme for its HDB carparks.
Under this scheme, HDB will offer the second season parking ticket at a 50 per cent discount to facilitate residents who visit their family members on a regular basis.
The Joint Selection Scheme for the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) replacement flats will also be enhanced.
The existing criteria will be relaxed to allow for the joint selection of any group of up to six lessees - up from the current limit of four households.
Wet markets to make a comeback
Residents also saw the need for wet markets.
Making a comeback among Singaporeans, wet markets were cited in the report as an unofficial 'social hub' of the neighbourhood.
The Forum noted that these heartland icons will however need to be commerically viable on their own and will be built by commerical operators.
In response, the HDB will pilot a standalone, naturally-ventilated wet market-cum-hawker centre, to be built and run by a private operator in Sengkang Town Centre.
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