Measures to Experiment, Certify and Deploy New Construction Materials, Building Capabilities or Techniques to Reduce Construction Cost and Time
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Shawn Huang Wei Zhong’s inquiry on deploying new construction materials and techniques to reduce costs and maintain housing affordability. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee explained that the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) uses the Built Environment Accelerate-to-Market Programme and Building Innovation Panel to facilitate technological adoption and regulatory clearances. He highlighted recent funding for solutions in robotics and digital management while clarifying that construction costs do not affect HDB flat prices. Instead, HDB prices flats based on market value minus significant subsidies to ensure affordability for buyers. BCA remains committed to collaborating with HDB to integrate these productive solutions into residential developments.
Transcript
39 Mr Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked the Minister for National Development what are the plans and measures taken to experiment, certify and deploy new construction materials, building capabilities or techniques to reduce construction costs and time to keep housing prices affordable.
Mr Desmond Lee: Innovation and technology are key enablers to support the transformation of the construction industry. BCA works closely with other agencies and the industry to facilitate the development and deployment of new solutions that can enhance construction productivity. Such solutions can potentially reduce time and costs for construction projects, including residential developments.
For example, BCA is part of the multi-agency Built Environment Accelerate-to-Market Programme (BEAMP) for solution providers to work with the industry and public agencies to deploy their solutions. For the recently concluded cycle of the BEAMP in July 2021, eight innovators were awarded funding to develop solutions under themes, such as robotics and automation, advanced design and fabrication, and digital asset delivery and management. In addition, the multi-agency Building Innovation Panel (BIP) led by BCA acts as a one-stop platform to facilitate the regulatory clearances required for the deployment of new solutions to enhance construction productivity and sustainability.
Changes in construction costs will not affect the prices of flats sold by HDB, as HDB does not price flats with reference to construction costs. Instead, HDB prices new flats with reference to the market value of flats. To ensure that new flats are affordable, especially for first-time buyers, HDB applies a significant subsidy to the assessed market values of new flats, so that new flats are priced below market. That said, BCA will continue to work closely with HDB to facilitate the deployment of new solutions in their projects through initiatives, such as the BEAMP.