Nine landed estates to benefit from $20m facelift

Residents' input will play a part in Estate Upgrading Programme works
By Cheryl Ong, The Straits Times, 10 Jan 2015

MORE than 4,800 households across Singapore will benefit from a $20 million facelift of some of the nation's older private estates.

The Government will spruce up nine landed housing estates under its latest Estate Upgrading Programme (EUP). The work includes landscaping, enhancing parks and playgrounds, construction of ramps for wheelchair users and covering of drains, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said yesterday.

Post by Ministry of National Development.

The works will be carried out in Clover Estate, Lentor Estate, Thomson Faber Island Gardens, Toh Tuck Estate, Meng Suan/Springleaf Estates, Happy Garden, Sea Breeze Garden and Toh Estate. The area encompassing Jalan Merbok, Jalan Layang-Layang, Jalan Kakatua, Jalan Selanting, Jalan Rajawali and Shamah Terrace Estate will be included as well.

These private estates - all at least 30 years old - are expected to benefit from the improved facilities when work is completed in three to four years, said MND.

Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman, Minister of State for National Development and chairman of the EUP, said that residents play a part in determining what they want in their estates.

"This is truly a collaborative effort, with residents taking ownership and playing an active role in deciding what improvements they hope to see in their estates to make the living environment better for all," said Dr Maliki.

The last upgrading exercise was conducted in 2012 and saw 7,000 households benefit from a $29 million facelift - the most expensive since the programme started in 2000.

So far, a total of $167 million has been spent on more than 41,800 households in 54 private estates, over eight rounds of upgrading efforts, said the MND.

Ms Ong Choon Fah, DTZ's regional head of consulting and research, noted that the enhancements will "make a difference" to how much residents enjoy living in the area, but is unlikely to result in significant gains in property values.

"Home values increase because of the features of the property itself, such as location and how well it is maintained. It also depends on the overall state of the market and property cycles. These upgrading plans also take place over a period of time," she said. "It's not like we haven't been upgrading for the past 20 years, so there won't be a sudden surge in home values."

On the other hand, the value of a well-kept home will not be preserved if the surrounding estate is not maintained as well, she said.

Neighbourhood committees will conduct surveys and dialogues with residents to gather residents' views on their ideas for the upgrading works.

In the past, estate enhancement works have typically included accessibility ramps, wider footpaths, new green spaces, sheltered walkways, playground equipment, hard courts and basketball courts in parks.

It does not cover work on private land and facilities, including common areas in condominiums and private apartments.

TARGETED FOR UPGRADING

The works, which typically include amenities like sheltered footpaths, will take place in:

- Clover Estate

- Lentor Estate

- Thomson Faber Island Gardens

- Toh Tuck Estate

- Meng Suan/Springleaf Estates

- Happy Garden

- Sea Breeze Garden

- Toh Estate

- The area encompassing Jalan Merbok, Jalan Layang-Layang, Jalan Kakatua, Jalan Selanting, Jalan Rajawali and Shamah Terrace Estate