Covered Linkways as a Compulsory Feature in All New HDB Developments

21 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether covered linkways can be incorporated as a compulsory feature in all new HDB developments to link the nearest block of flats to its nearest bus stop; and (b) what are the new features that flat dwellers can look forward to with regard to enhancing connectivity in HDB estates.

Mr Lawrence Wong: In all new public housing developments, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) provides a network of covered linkways to connect the residential blocks to various precinct amenities such as nearby bus stops, multi-storey car parks, and precinct pavilions.

In addition, for new development areas, such as Punggol North, Tampines North and Bidadari, residents can look forward to new connectivity features that include pedestrian walkways enhanced with landscaping and selected pedestrian routes that are lined with shops and social facilities to enhance the walking experience.

For existing estates, residents can also look forward to connectivity enhancements that include new walkways, covered linkways, and also cycling and park connectors, where feasible, to improve the first- and last-mile journey to transport nodes and key amenities. These will be done mainly through the various estate rejuvenation programmes, such as the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) and the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme.