‘The Whole Country Will Be Transformed’

Source : TODAY, 20 Aug 2007

HUNDREDS of thousands of homes — from ageing and middle-aged flats, to private homes and even the sluggish Punggol 21 development — are up for a fresh lease of life, as the Prime Minister unveiled a slew of upgrading initiatives aimed at boosting Singaporeans’ asset values.

Reiterating the Government’s promise to upgrade flats and estates when it has the surpluses to, Mr Lee Hsien Loong said: “We will remake the whole country. It will take us 20 or 30 years but eventually, the whole country will be transformed.”

One old neighbourhood getting a completely new face is Dawson Estate in Queenstown. The mammoth plan is to build some 10,000 HDB and private units — designed by award-winning architects — in an area that includes three HDB precincts and the Alexandra Canal, which will be turned into a linear park.

At the same time, landmarks like the old town centre square and the old Commonwealth Avenue wet market will be preserved, for “a sense of history and place” as well as character, Mr Lee said.

At the other end of the scale, the Punggol 21 development — which saw a slow-down due to the financial crisis upon its launch in 1998 — will be brought back on track, with bonus features.

The upgraded Punggol 21+ plan will include a big water feature created by damming Sungei Punggol and Sungei Serangoon, providing river views and water activities. A town centre will also be developed by the waterfront, as will rooftop gardens, al-fresco dining and even a floating island.

Punggol 21+, an enclave of some 18,000 units, will be “the face of the new Singapore” — with fun and buzz, said Mr Lee.

















NEW SHINE FOR MORE FLATS At least 360,000 flats are being lined up for two new upgrading programmes.

Interim Upgrading will be replaced with Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP), which will combine two or more precincts for better planning, and include “non-standard” items such as skate parks. Residents get to decide what they want through, say, a town hall meet.

Main Upgrading will make way for Home Improvement Programme (HIP), which will include toilet upgrading, fixing spalling concrete and the replacement of entrance doors and grille gates.

This will be extended to 100,000 flats built up to 1980, but also another 200,000 flats built between 1981 and 1986 — starting with Yishun and Tampines precincts — which will also enjoy the NRP.

Another 60,000 flats built between 1987 and 1989 will get the NRP

Meanwhile, private estates, which have professed to feeling “neglected”, will come under a “big bang” upgrading programme, and be allowed to dip into Community Improvement Projects Committee funds — now limited to HDB precincts — for upgrading works.

Mr Lee summed up: “No other city in the world can do this: Public housing that is attractive, affordable, appealing, that gives a quality home for every citizen and … an asset which will appreciate in value and help to provide for your old age. In Singapore, we can do it.”