Home Improvement Programme voting process to be studied after 2 Tiong Bahru HDB blocks miss threshold

The two blocks – Block 34 Kim Cheng Street and Block 35 Lim Liak Street – had failed to garner enough votes to pass the 75 per cent threshold by a narrow margin of two votes and one, respectively. Block 34 comprises 24 units, while Block 35 has 15 units.

They were among 29 blocks in the neighbourhood where residents voted on whether to carry out HIP improvements. Voting was successful for the other 27 blocks.

All the blocks are four-storey, walk-up flats built in 1949 by Singapore Improvement Trust, the predecessor to HDB.

Residents in the two unsuccessful blocks

, depending on the level of support from residents, Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Foo Cexiang told The Straits Times in December.

HIP was launched in 2007 to spruce up older housing estates and resolve common maintenance problems, such as spalling concrete. It is carried out only if at least 75 per cent of a block’s eligible Singaporean households have voted for it. Permanent resident households are not eligible to vote.

More details on HIP II – the second round of upgrades that HDB flats will undergo at the 60- to 70-year mark – will be announced when ready.

On Jan 8, Mr Chee was also asked for an update on the framework of the Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS).

He said he hopes to avoid a “bunching effect” where many flats of a similar age are redeveloped in one go.

“It will be very disruptive for the residents and for the businesses. Instead, what we want to do is to spread this out so that we do it in an orderly manner,” he said.

The voting threshold for VERS is also being studied, he said.

VERS, which has yet to be rolled out, will allow owners of flats aged 70 years and older to vote on whether the Government should buy back their homes before their 99-year leases run out.

Other policies aimed at gradually redeveloping older towns include the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme and Silver Upgrading Programme, Mr Chee said.

He had said in August that the Government aims to roll out VERS to a few sites in the first half of the 2030s.

The authorities aim to develop and flesh out the VERS framework in this term of government, including setting parameters to identify possible sites, ensuring sufficient homes are ready in time for residents to relocate to, and working out a fair package for residents.