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Six Woodlands blocks to be replaced under Sers

Published on Jun 26, 2012


MORE than 400 households, businesses and hawker stalls will be affected by the latest relocation exercise to be carried out by the Housing Board.

The six blocks on Woodlands Centre Road is the 78th site to be picked under the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme, which offers new flats with fresh 99-year leases to affected residents.

HDB said the move will affect 147 households, a majority of which occupy three-room flats.

The six blocks - 1A to 6A - were completed between 1980 and 1986. The 190 replacement flats on Woodlands Drive 70 - a 10-minute drive away - will offer two-, three-, four- and five-room options, and be ready by 2016.

HDB said these flats will be opposite the Admiralty MRT station and a shopping complex.

There will also be a wide range of amenities such as shops and eateries, as well as a wet market and schools.

Under the scheme, residents will get compensation for their flats pegged to prevailing market value. They are also assured of a replacement unit at a 20 per cent price discount.

They will be given priority if they choose to go for Build-to-Order launches.

Since the scheme was introduced in 1995, about 36,000 households have been relocated. The programme is meant to revitalise an estate and redevelop ageing HDB blocks.

About 200 businesses in rental shops will also be affected by the move.

Eligible shop tenants will be given $60,000 and a 10 per cent rental discount if they bid successfully for other HDB rental shops.

Smaller businesses will be given a relocation grant of $30,000 if they are able to find another location and move out by 2016.

Some 78 hawker stalls in the estate will also have to make way. Those who wish to continue their trade will be allocated new stalls at the replacement site.

To ensure there are enough cooked food stalls in the area, the National Environment Agency will build a replacement hawker centre in Woodlands town.