Lifts for Private Buildings More than Three Storeys in Height

89 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the number of private buildings above three storeys that do not have lifts installed; and (b) whether there are plans to ensure or encourage owners of such private buildings to install lifts for easier accessibility by the elderly and less able-bodied.

Mr Lawrence Wong: Currently, our Building Control Regulations require buildings of five storeys or more to be provided with passenger lifts. Lift provision is not mandatory for buildings under five storeys. Hence, about 370 existing low-rise commercial and institutional buildings do not have lifts installed.

To nudge private building owners to voluntarily upgrade their buildings, the Building and Construction Authority provides incentives via the $40-million Accessibility Fund. The Fund co-pays up to 80% of the construction costs for lift provision, capped at $300,000 per development. To date, the Fund has supported lift installations in 79 developments. We have recently extended the availability of the Fund until March 2022.