SINGAPORE \u2013 Nearly 29,000 households living in HDB flats across Singapore will get upgrades to their neighbourhoods under two schemes. <\/p>\n
These upgrades could include fitness trails linking senior-centric amenities, seating areas and features that guide those with dementia, as Singapore\u2019s infrastructure evolves to help its greying population live comfortably in their communities.<\/p>\n
Under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme<\/span><\/a> (NRP), more than $130 million will be pumped into 17 projects in areas including Canberra, Hougang and Toa Payoh, National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat announced on April 18. <\/p>\n He was speaking in Canberra, at the Sembawang neighbourhood\u2019s annual charity walk, which supports groups that care for seniors and those in need. <\/p>\n Mr Chee said that apart from supporting community partners, the Government is enhancing different neighbourhoods to enable seniors to live independently and actively. He noted that HDB began including more senior-friendly enhancements under the NRP in 2025.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThese provide communal spaces for seniors to interact and bond with their neighbours.<\/p>\n \u201cElements within these spaces have also been designed and planned to help our seniors move around safely and navigate confidently around their neighbourhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n These works, fully funded by the Government and implemented by the town councils, will benefit close to 20,000 households.<\/p>\n The 14 town councils \u2013 managing this 17th batch of projects under the NRP \u2013 will engage with residents through exhibitions and surveys, for feedback on improvements they would like to see.<\/p>\n National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat with residents in Canberra, at the Sembawang neighbourhood\u2019s annual charity walk on April 18. <\/p>\n ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Implementation and completion timelines vary depending on the nature and complexity of the project, said HDB.<\/p>\n Since 2007, when the NRP was introduced, more than $1.6 billion has been set aside to fund 246 projects, excluding the latest batch.<\/p>\n They cover about 315,500 households, HDB said in a statement. As at end March, nearly 60 per cent of these projects have been completed, benefiting around 199,000 households.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, works to upgrade another 10 precincts in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah and Queenstown with senior-friendly enhancements under the Silver Upgrading Programme (SUP) will commence in the second half of 2026.<\/p>\n The government-funded programme, launched in 2024, rolls out improvements to older precincts that already underwent upgrading in the past to benefit seniors.<\/p>\n Enhancements under the programme\u2019s third batch of projects will benefit about 9,000 households, and will be completed progressively from the second half of 2028, said Mr Chee.<\/p>\n HDB also plans to expand the SUP to precincts in towns including Bedok, Clementi and Kallang-Whampoa in the next batch, he added.<\/p>\n In selecting precincts, Mr Chee said priority is given to those with a higher proportion of soon-to-be seniors aged 55 and above, as well as seniors aged 65 and above. <\/p>\n As one of the fastest ageing countries<\/span><\/a> in the world, Singapore became a super-aged society in 2026. This is defined internationally as having at least 21 per cent of the population aged 65 or older.<\/p>\n About one in four Singaporeans will be in this age group come 2030.<\/p>\n<\/picture><\/div>