HOUSING FACILITIES UPGRADING FOR THE FUTURE POPULATION

Abstract

In the Yearbook of Statistics of Singapore for 2007, Singapore is having a 4.25 percentage growth in total population with 6,489 population density per square metre. In the speech by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development on Planning for Growth and a Quality Environment, on 3rd of March 2007 Singapore is aiming to reach a population of 6.5 million in another 40 to 50 years time to act as a preparation for the future’s challenges. As such, there will be some degree of constraints anticipated along with the target being announced since we understand Singapore is a very small country. It is very important to look into other ways to increase the accommodation like what Mr. Mah has told the Parliament “We will need to optimize land use … whether it is through reclamation, building upwards, or using subterranean space”. Alternatively, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has introduced several upgrading programmes to regenerate and rejuvenate the old buildings within the next 5 years to achieve a balance between different age groups living in a New Town. This is also to create a better living environment for the increasing population in the future. Hence, this dissertation will go into areas of HDB upgrading programmes to find out their effectiveness of those programmes and to involve residents’ participation in order to understand their precise needs and whether it addresses the issue of an increasing population.