BUILDING owners can now get extra funding to retrofit their buildings with barrier-free-accessibility (BFA) features.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) on Tuesday announced that it will increase funding support by two-fold for its Accessibility Fund to help private building owners offset the cost of adding such features.

Currently, through BCA's $40 million Accessibility Fund, building owners can get up to 40 per cent funding for a basic accessibility package that covers a minimum set of barrier-free features.

With the revision, BCA will now co-pay up to 80 per cent for the basic package.

The Accessibility Fund will also be extended to cover 40 per cent funding for additional barrier-free-accessibility features beyond the basic features, said a BCA statement.

The maximum value that can be granted under the enhanced incentive package will also be raised from $150,000 to $300,000 per building.

The scheme is open to all private buildings except for landed residential properties, and comes into immediate effect.

Since April 2007, the Accessibility Fund has supported applications from 19 building owners who have tapped on the fund to offset the cost of constructing basic accessibility features, such as an accessible approach to their building via ramps or assistive technologies and an accessible toilet at the first storey.

Some examples include Paradiz Centre @ Selegie Road, OG@Orchard Point and Friven & Co @ Tanglin.

Said Dr John Keung, BCA's CEO: 'Shaping a friendly built environment has always been one of our key pillars. Our collaborative and holistic approach towards building a caring and inclusive society has enabled us to come up with a slew of initiatives via our Barrier-Free Accessibility Master Plan to drive all sectors towards achieving this aim.

"We hope that with the enhancements to the Accessibility Fund, more owners of buildings built before 1990 will come forward to provide greater barrier-free accessibility to the buildings."

He added that such improvement works on accessibility will benefit the customers and users of their buildings and help owners and companies discharge their corporate social responsibility.

"Over time, such works will shape a friendly built environment and help create a more inclusive society, enabling users with various mobility needs to move around with ease', said Mr Keung.

BCA on Tuesday also launched its Friendly Built Environment Portal (www.friendlybuildings.sg), a one-stop portal for information on universal design and accessibility to cater to the special needs of different user groups.