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15-10-11, 18:56
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,4574,460295-1318535940,00.html?
Published October 13, 2011
Govt moving to address 'imbalance' in housing
More HDB flats being built, income ceilings adjusted, more land to be sold
By UMA SHANKARI
(SINGAPORE) The government is taking active measures to address the 'temporary imbalance' in the supply and demand of housing, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan reiterated yesterday.
A sudden rise in housing prices following a sharp economic recovery, amidst global liquidity, has worried many Singaporeans, Mr Khaw noted in an addendum to President Tony Tan Keng Yam's address in Parliament on Monday.
'We are building more HDB flats and speeding up their completion. We have adjusted the income ceilings, so that higher income couples and singles can also qualify for public housing,' Mr Khaw said.
At the same time, the government will also release more land for private homes and will 'calibrate' its measures to ensure that prices move sustainably with the economy, he said.
Among other measures, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) recently upped the monthly income ceiling for purchasing new executive condominium (EC) flats from $10,000 to $12,000.
As at end-September 2011, HDB has received around 140 EC bookings from flat-buyers within this income group, it said. The CPF Housing Grant disbursed to this group so far is about $130,000.
Mr Khaw also reiterated that HDB is building more subsidised rental flats to help 'vulnerable' families that are unable to afford their own homes.
He also said that as HDB moves into the next phase of public housing, it will strive for even better-designed and sustainable towns that have ample public spaces and community facilities so that residents can enjoy 'cleaner, greener and better' living.
HDB will tap on private sector expertise and public feedback to develop such sustainable towns.
'For the mature estates, we will upgrade and rejuvenate them. As we complete the lift upgrading programme, we are accelerating the home improvement programme and neighbourhood renewal programme,' Mr Khaw said.
'We will also identify suitable sites for more intensified redevelopment so as to inject more housing in mature towns.'
Where possible, some of the new HDB flats will be built in mature estates to 'widen choices and meet aspirations', he said.
The government also intends to bring jobs closer to homes as new growth areas such as Jurong Lake District, Paya Lebar and Kallang take off.
Housing will also be gradually intensified, especially around MRT stations and in mature towns such as Queenstown and Bishan to take full advantage of their amenities, Mr Khaw said.
Published October 13, 2011
Govt moving to address 'imbalance' in housing
More HDB flats being built, income ceilings adjusted, more land to be sold
By UMA SHANKARI
(SINGAPORE) The government is taking active measures to address the 'temporary imbalance' in the supply and demand of housing, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan reiterated yesterday.
A sudden rise in housing prices following a sharp economic recovery, amidst global liquidity, has worried many Singaporeans, Mr Khaw noted in an addendum to President Tony Tan Keng Yam's address in Parliament on Monday.
'We are building more HDB flats and speeding up their completion. We have adjusted the income ceilings, so that higher income couples and singles can also qualify for public housing,' Mr Khaw said.
At the same time, the government will also release more land for private homes and will 'calibrate' its measures to ensure that prices move sustainably with the economy, he said.
Among other measures, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) recently upped the monthly income ceiling for purchasing new executive condominium (EC) flats from $10,000 to $12,000.
As at end-September 2011, HDB has received around 140 EC bookings from flat-buyers within this income group, it said. The CPF Housing Grant disbursed to this group so far is about $130,000.
Mr Khaw also reiterated that HDB is building more subsidised rental flats to help 'vulnerable' families that are unable to afford their own homes.
He also said that as HDB moves into the next phase of public housing, it will strive for even better-designed and sustainable towns that have ample public spaces and community facilities so that residents can enjoy 'cleaner, greener and better' living.
HDB will tap on private sector expertise and public feedback to develop such sustainable towns.
'For the mature estates, we will upgrade and rejuvenate them. As we complete the lift upgrading programme, we are accelerating the home improvement programme and neighbourhood renewal programme,' Mr Khaw said.
'We will also identify suitable sites for more intensified redevelopment so as to inject more housing in mature towns.'
Where possible, some of the new HDB flats will be built in mature estates to 'widen choices and meet aspirations', he said.
The government also intends to bring jobs closer to homes as new growth areas such as Jurong Lake District, Paya Lebar and Kallang take off.
Housing will also be gradually intensified, especially around MRT stations and in mature towns such as Queenstown and Bishan to take full advantage of their amenities, Mr Khaw said.