Over 80% of Singapore’s resident population live in HDB flats, with about 90% of us owning these homes. As such, the condition and amenities surrounding our estate are of great interest to all of us. To ensure we continue living in a first-class living environment, HDB flats (and its surrounding estate) are refreshed through various enhancement schemes over their 99-year lease duration.
Some of these popular schemes include the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP). In this article, we look at what the NRP is and how it really benefits residents.
What Is The Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP)?
The Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) was launched in 2007 to enhance selected public housing precincts at the block and neighbourhood level. It was meant to be an upsized version of the previous Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) Plus that was first implemented in 1990.
Under the NRP, larger areas consisting two or more contiguous precincts are upgraded with more and better facilities. Residents play an active role in choosing the types of public amenities they wish to have in their estate as well.
The NRP is meant to target middle-aged HDB estates. The initial batch included HDB flats that were built around 1981 – 1989. Currently, the scheme has been extended to blocks that were built up to 1995 that have yet to undergo any NRP or Home Improvement Programme (HIP).
Since its introduction, $1.5 billion has been spent on 203 NRP projects spread across 14 batches. The 15th NRP batch will consist of 23 projects for HDB estates in Hougang, Choa Chu Kang and Pasir Ris. More than $95 million has been set aside, which is expected to benefit more than 15,600 households. This latest batch of NRP projects will cover all remaining HDB blocks built up to 1995. Going forward, NRP projects will be extended to HDB blocks built up to 1999.
Future NRP projects will also include more senior-friendly amenities, in line with the Age Well SG initiative. They will feature upgrades such as therapeutic gardens with wheelchair-friendly planter boxes, fitness trails connecting senior-centric amenities, and wayfinding features along routes frequently used by seniors. These amenities will enhance the safety and connectivity of our neighbourhoods while helping seniors to stay active within their community.
The cost of all the upgrade works under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme is fully funded by the government.
Read Also: Guide To HDB’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP)
Improvements HDB Homeowners Can Expect When Their Estate Is Selected For The NRP
Under the NRP, residents will see both block-level upgrades and precinct-level upgrades.
Under the block-level upgrades, homeowners may see projects including new lift lobby tiling at the first storey, an improved Residents’ corner and more seating area at the void decks. Whereas, at the precinct-level, residents can look forward to more covered linkways, drop-off porches and a fitness corner to name a few.
Types of Improvements
Examples
Block-level improvements
New letterboxes
Residents’ corners
Seating area at void decks
Lift lobby tiling at first storey
Precinct-level improvements
Drop-off porch
Playground
Footpath / jogging track
Fitness corner
Street soccer pitch
Pavilion / shelter
Landscaping
Covered linkways
Source: HDB
Examples Of Block-Level Improvement Works
New Letterbox Structure – 732-751 Jurong West St 73/75
New Lift Lobby Tiling – 732-751 Jurong West St 73/75
Examples Of Precinct-Level Improvement Works
Before: Open spaces and hardcourts (left);
After: Residents can now enjoy more facilities at The Arena @ Keat Hong
Dragon Playground – 852 Woodlands Street 83
High-Low Linkway – 839 & 883 Woodlands Street 82
HDB has also expanded the scope of the NRP works to include repainting of blocks and other repair works, which allows for better coordination of the NRP works with routine maintenance programme by the respective Town Councils. This ensures a more cohesive rejuvenation of the blocks and precincts – and without inconveniencing residents twice.
In June 2024, the NRP budget per flat has been upsized by about 30%. In total, each NRP will now work out to around $6,100 per flat, compared to the previous budget of $4,700 previously. The last time the NRP budget was revised upwards was in September 2014 – when it was raised from $3,400 per flat.
Residents Are Involved In Selecting Their Preferred Upgrades During NRP
Residents are consulted at every step in the NRP process. They get to choose the projects that they want to see in their estate, be it for better connectivity and accessibility or more greenery and facilities.
There are three stages under the NRP. The first stage involves the formation of a working committee by HDB, the Town Council and a small group of residents. At this initial stage, general plans for the estate refresh will be discussed.
The second stage of the NRP, also termed as Public Consultation, is where the Town Council actively engages the rest of the residents for their feedback on the proposed improvements for the neighbourhood. This is typically done through Town Hall Meetings, dialogue sessions, block parties, mini-exhibitions and surveys.
Eligible residents will be given the NRP brochures and survey forms. There must be at least 50% of support from homeowners before the NRP can proceed to the final stage.
Moving to the final stage, also known as the Consensus Gathering exercise, the design proposal is refined based on the earlier suggestions for the NRP and is put up for voting. At least 75% of homeowners must vote in favour before these projects can be implemented.
How The NRP Voting Process Works
In order to move the NRP project along, residents need to submit their votes in the second and third stages of the NRP. Submission of the voting forms can be done either physically at the Town Council’s office or through the various available feedback channels such as email, hotline or online forms. Residents can also vote through the One Service App under the “What Say You” feature.
Furthermore, residents who vote may also stand to receive some gifts as an incentive for participation. Crucially, voting for the proposed projects would mean better amenities and facilities that will enhance the living environment in that precinct, which would otherwise remain status quo.
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