Young couples, lower-income to get help to own homes; 9 in 10 homes within 400m of green space by 2030: MND

The young and elderly strolling along a bridge in Bishan Park, surrounded by HDB flats. PHOTO: ST FILE

SINGAPORE - Young couples and the lower-income will get the help they need to own homes, said the Ministry of National Development (MND) on Thursday (Jan 21).

The elderly will also get help moving to smaller homes as well as moving about more easily at home and in their estates, said MND in an Addendum to President Tony Tan Keng Yam's address at the opening of Parliament last Friday (Jan 15).

More public rental flats will also be built.

To build a more conducive and greener living environment, Ang Mo Kio and Tampines will be piloted as model walking and cycling towns.

Here's a look at MND's plans for the next five years as outlined in the Addendum:

An inclusive housing policy

* Under the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, home owners who sold and then rented HDB flats can get government help to own a home again

* Build more public rental flats and integrate them within larger HDB estates

* Look into ways to support other vulnerable groups, including divorcees and low-income singles

* Enhanced the Lease Buyback Scheme to enable more seniors to age-in-place and unlock some value from their flats

* Implemented the 2-Room Flexi Scheme to provide choice and flexibility for seniors looking to move to a smaller home

* More new smart-enabled homes, such as those equipped with the Smart Elderly Monitoring and Alert System to enable seniors to live in a safer environment

* Continue to help singles own their homes

Nurturing vibrant and cohesive communities

* Build-To-Order (BTO) HDB projects to set aside space for child care centres, elder care centres, and other social communal facilities

* Build more town plazas and neighbourhood centres with activities to engage the community

* Heartland shops to be revitalised through the Revitalisation of Shops Scheme

* Make greenery more accessible, with 90 per cent of households living within 400m of a park or park connector by 2030

* Communities to be connected by an expanded network of green corridors, which will grow from 300km to 400km

Developing a sustainable and thriving city

* Ang Mo Kio and Tampines will be piloted as model walking and cycling towns

* New areas such as Marina South and Kampong Bugis will feature more walkable ground spaces with social and retail amenities, and reduced road space and car usage

* Continue to help construction industry improve productivity, for instance, through better construction methods

* Older estates to get makeovers through initiatives such as The Remaking Our Heartland programme

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