SATISFACTION LEVEL OF RESIDENTS IN WEST COAST COURT - AN UPGRADED PRECINCT

Abstract

The housing policy in Singapore has changed from providing low cost housing for the population masses in the 1960s to the growing emphasis on meeting the higher aspirations of Singaporeans today. It is not enough to provide greater choice and variety in the newer estates but equal attention must also be given to the older towns. The deficiencies in older estates have brought about associated problems, calling for the need to rejuvenate these places. The HDB Main Upgrading Programme was thus implemented to improve the facilities and the overall standard of old public housing in Singapore. This study is an attempt to find out the satisfaction level of the residents in West Coast Court which had undergone upgrading in 1994. It was found that majority of the residents are very satisfied with the upgrading; the most popular one being the upgrading done at the precinct level. Problems faced by the residents were also highlighted, but all were at tolerable levels. This study also reveals that some households have decided not to move out of the estate due to upgrading, which is rather encouraging. Despite all the inconvenience, residents are still willing to participate in the upgrading if they were asked to vote again.