Denial of Lift Upgrading due to Funding Limit

18 Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether he can provide an update on the number of HDB blocks that are not given lift upgrading due specifically to the funding cap; and (b) whether HDB will consider polling the residents in these affected blocks to explore the possibility of co-sharing the amount beyond the funding cap to have lift access at their floors.

The Second Minister for National Development (Mr Desmond Lee) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) was launched in 2001 to provide direct lift access to flats and enhance convenience for residents, especially our elderly and less mobile. At the start of the programme, there were more than 5,300 Housing and Development Board (HDB) blocks without 100% lift access. LUP was initially found to be unfeasible for more than 1,000 of these blocks due to cost or technical constraints.

Over the years, HDB has adopted innovative technical solutions to provide such blocks with lift access. Through these efforts, the vast majority of the 5,300 blocks have since been able to benefit from LUP and there remain only about 150 blocks where HDB has not found any solutions to overcome existing constraints. About 70% of these 150 blocks are not eligible for lift upgrading due to cost considerations. In total, less than 1% of sold flats do not have direct lift access.

For some of the blocks where LUP is not feasible, the cost of providing 100% lift access would be prohibitive. In addition, asking residents to co-share part of the amount beyond the cost cap may cause undue financial hardship to residents. LUP is done on a polling basis and, if the poll is successful, those who do not vote in favour of LUP still have to pay their share of the cost.

Singaporeans who are in urgent need of direct lift access due to medical conditions or disability may approach HDB for housing and financial assistance. HDB will assess each request on a case-by-case basis to see how best to render help.

For these remaining blocks, HDB continues to look at available technical and innovative solutions to see how we can provide for these blocks and, as and when they become available, we will make that option possible.

Mr Png Eng Huat (Hougang): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just a quick clarification. Those blocks that cannot get LUP because of the funding cap, why in the first place did the Ministry not put them under the main LUP contract because they will enjoy huge economies of scale when it comes to bidding? Some contractors are like that. If I build one lift, it is more expensive, I do not mind throwing in a few other freebies. If the whole thing were to be parked under the original LUP, I think those blocks which have funding cap issues will probably be resolved. I do not know whether the Ministry could consider throwing another tender for all these lifts.

Mr Desmond Lee: I thank the Member for his question. Some of the 150 blocks are not eligible for LUP because of very severe site constraints. Part of it is technical, part of it is just the way in which the block is designed in relation to the land surrounding it. But for those blocks that are not eligible because of cost considerations, they are well in excess of $100,000 per unit.

So, even if you drive this as a part of the overall LUP, which they were, because, LUP, when you call the contract, it is for all unavailable blocks that qualify. The nature of these remaining number of blocks, the cost would be way in excess of $100,000. So, that is a very different order altogether.

1.30 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.