SINGAPORE - The Singapore government, through its Housing & Development Board (HDB), will invest a total of S$165 million (approximately US$123 million) to significantly upgrade the living environment of 17 HDB estates across the island, announced Minister for National Development Desmond Lee on April 6th.

This upgrading initiative marks the 16th phase of the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) and is expected to benefit over 25,000 households. Notably, this round includes estates built between 1996 and 1999 for the first time. The estates slated for upgrades are located throughout Singapore, including Bukit Panjang, Sembawang, and Sengkang.

In a press release, the HDB and the Ministry of National Development (MND) stated that the upgrading works will be carried out based on residents' feedback and will encompass improvements to communal and recreational spaces, as well as estate-wide enhancements such as covered linkways, drop-off porches, playgrounds, and landscaping.

The entire cost of this upgrading will be funded by the government. Each town council will be responsible for appointing design consultants and construction contractors, as well as overseeing the progress of the works. Since the introduction of the NRP in 2007, more than S$1.5 billion has been invested in 229 projects, with 131 projects completed and the rest in various stages of progress as of the end of March 2025.

Speaking at a Community Build Day event in Toa Payoh, Minister Lee highlighted that future upgrading projects will incorporate more senior-friendly amenities in line with the ‘Age Well SG’ initiative. These will include therapeutic gardens, fitness trails, and wayfinding features. To support these enhancements, the budget per household under the NRP will be increased from the existing S$6,100 to approximately S$6,600.

List of Estates Undergoing Upgrading:

Hougang Avenue 1
Hougang Street 91/Avenue 4/Avenue 9
Bishan Street 22 / 24
Jalan Teck Whye
Bedok Reservoir View & Bedok North Avenue 2
Jelapang Road
Geylang Bahru, Whampoa Drive, Jalan Tenteram
Bukit Batok East Avenue 3/Street 24
Pine Close & Cassia Crescent
Choa Chu Kang North 6/Street 64
Yishun Ring Road
Woodlands Avenue 6/Circle
Woodlands Drive 52/Avenue 6/Ring Road
Rivervale Street/Drive
Tampines Street 72
Cambridge Road
Jurong West Central 1
Enhanced Programme to Improve Housing for Seniors:

Minister Lee also announced enhancements to the Senior’s Priority for Upgrading (SUP) scheme, which will benefit around 11,000 households in 12 older estates that had previously undergone upgrading but are not included in the current NRP.

Launched in August 2024 and fully funded by the government, this programme aims to improve the living environment for seniors. Priority is given to areas with a higher proportion of residents aged 55 and above compared to the national average. Works in the 12 selected areas in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, and Toa Payoh are expected to be completed in the second half of 2027.

Increased Lift Access Housing Grant:

Introduced in 2001, the Lift Upgrading Programme aims to provide all-floor lift access in older HDB estates. To date, lifts have been installed in over 5,000 blocks, and about 99% of HDB blocks now have direct lift access at every floor.

To assist residents in the remaining blocks where lift upgrading is not feasible due to cost or technical constraints, the HDB provides a grant for the purchase of new or resale flats with direct lift access. Effective April 6th, this grant will be increased from a maximum of S$30,000 to S$80,000 for families and from a maximum of S$15,000 to S$40,000 for single individuals.

Minister Lee stated, "With this significant increase in the grant, we hope to make it easier for households with mobility challenges to move to more accessible homes."

This announcement is seen as a significant step by the Singapore government to prepare for an aging society and provide a better living environment for all its residents.