Artist impression of a park in revamped Dawson estateSINGAPORE: More details on the first HDB estates to be rejuvenated across Singapore have been released.
The three chosen ones are Punggol, because it is new; Yishun, because it is middle-aged; and Dawson estate in Queenstown, because it is old.
Punggol has already been picked for transformation, under the Punggol 21 plan.
But the renewal effort is being stepped up.
Among the facilities planned are a seafront promenade which stretches around the town, reservoirs for water activities, a waterway through the town centre, and proposals for a town plaza and sports complex.
HDB officials cannot say when construction will start on the individual projects.
Instead they say they are focusing on gathering feedback first.
But the plan is to put at least one piece of land in Punggol on the market for construction over the next couple of years, and possibly more in other areas.
As for Yishun, proposals include a new polytechnic or university and a shopping complex that is integrated with housing and a bus exchange.
These are on top of the facilities already under construction, such as the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and the extended Northpoint shopping mall that will feature a new Community Library.
Because Yishun is considered a middle-aged town, it qualifies for two new upgrading programmes - the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and the Neighbourhood Renewal programme (NRP).
The HIP is for improvements inside the home while the NRP is for works done on the blocks and around the neighbourhood.
Flats will be eligible for the NRP if they were built in 1989 or before, and have not undergone the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP), Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) or the IUP Plus.
Dawson Estate in Queenstown is an old estate.
So the idea is to provide new public housing and integrate facilities into a seamless community.
But the estate's memories will be retained.
Some of the new ideas for Dawson include housing-in-the-park and multi-generation living.
Three local architect companies have drawn up concepts for three parcels of land in the estate.
The HDB estimates about 3,500 flats can be built on the land.
National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: "This (rejuvenation of HDB heartlands) will happen in the next few years. At first, we will start slowly because we need to gain experience in the new type of housing; our architects, our engineers, even the contractors and developers and builders will also have to gather new experience. But as we become more experienced, this will gather pace. So, what we have done is we have drawn up plans for Punggol and Dawson estate in Queenstown, for a start. We are going to replicate this in other parts of Singapore. Of course, it is going to take us time - 20 to 30 years."
To get an idea of just how different the new generation of public housing will be, you can catch an exhibition at the HDB Hub.
It is on till 8 September before it makes its way to the heartlands where it will be on until early October.
Visitors to the exhibition can give their feedback on the proposed plans for the new generation of public housing via the telephone, Internet and HDB service counters. - CNA/ir
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