Handicap-accessible Lots at HDB and URA-managed Car Parks
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Seah Kian Peng’s inquiry on increasing handicap-accessible car park lots at HDB and URA facilities and the timeline for the next accessibility code review. Minister of State Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim stated that over 6,800 accessible lots are currently provided according to Code requirements, with more added where feasible based on public feedback. He noted that the Building and Construction Authority reviews the Code every five years, with the next review scheduled to commence in 2023. Minister of State Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim confirmed that this review will consider suggestions to future-proof infrastructure planning to better support a rapidly ageing population. These periodic assessments ensure that public car parks remain accessible and responsive to the evolving mobility needs of all residents across Singapore.
Transcript
14 Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether more handicap-accessible car park lots will be provided at HDB and URA-managed car parks to provide for an accessible built environment; and (b) when is the next review on the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment.
The Minister of State for National Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, under the Building Control Act, all new developments and existing developments that carry out addition and alteration works on their car parks must provide accessible parking lots in accordance with the Code on Accessibility in the Built Environment. Developments with more than 10 parking lots are required to provide one accessible lot for every 50 lots of the first 100 lots and one accessible lot for every subsequent 200 lots or part thereof.
There are currently more than 6,800 accessible parking lots across public car parks managed by HDB and URA. The number of lots provided in HDB’s car parks is in accordance with the Code. URA car parks, which are typically off-street or curbside parking that are not part of a development, also take guidance from the Code for the provision of accessible parking lots. HDB and URA will also consider providing more accessible lots in their car parks based on public feedback and where it is feasible to do so.
BCA reviews the Code requirements about once every five years. BCA will commence the next review in 2023.
Mr Speaker: Mr Seah Kian Peng.
Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade): Just a quick supplementary question for the Minister of State. I raised this Parliamentary Question because I have more and more residents coming to me to say that in the places that they go to, for those who are physically immobile, they are finding it sometimes not so easy to find the lots that they have. Obviously, we do know that more of us are ageing, more of us do need these aids and, therefore, planning parameters do need to change. I recognise that the next review is next year, in 2023, as the Minister of State just said. I hope that, in the review, we will do with a more future-back kind of lens because I think this ageing trend is taking place very, very quickly. And it is better to plan ahead and have a little bit of buffer, rather than having to do a bit of catch-up.
Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question and also the suggestions. We will look into these in our review.