Housing and Development Board faces 3 key challenges

Joanne Chan and S Ramesh Today Online 28 Jan 10;

SINGAPORE - Public housing in the 21st century must evolve to meet changing needs, according to National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan.

And the Housing and Development Board (HDB) will face three key challenges: Shifting demographics, ageing estates and a need for sustainable development.

On emerging population trends that will shape future housing policies, he said: "With globalisation and changing demographics, we also see an increasingly affluent population with a growing international outlook and rising expectations. Through immigration, the population is rising and becoming more diverse with different needs."

These changes will require not only greater integration efforts but may prompt other lifestyle changes and, thus, increased expectations of what public housing can provide.

Mr Mah was speaking yesterday at the opening of the International Housing Conference in Singapore.

Singapore's ageing society may require further innovations in housing policies or building design, he also said, highlighting the second challenge: The steadily ageing profile of HDB flats and towns. There will be an urgent need to upgrade, redevelop and rejuvenate older estates to keep them relevant and vibrant.

The third consideration was the need to minimise the impact of growth on the environment and to use resources efficiently. This will contribute to Singapore's overall quest to provide a green and healthy living environment, through careful long-term planning.

Mr Mah said that environmental, economic and social sustainability have been major and constant considerations in the design of HDB towns and flats. "Design guidelines are developed to take into account Singapore's tropical climate. The choice of materials, design and construction methods are also carefully considered, as they have major bearings on buildability, resource consumption and future maintenance requirements," he said.

In the past half century, the HDB has garnered significant international recognition, including the United Nations Public Service Award.

And while new challenges may shape housing policies differently in the future,Mr Mah said the core mission of HDB remained unchanged: Providing Singaporeans with affordable quality homes and building cohesive communities.

He urged the HDB to continue its pursuit of sustainable public housing for the next 50 years and beyond.

Public housing in 21st century must meet changing needs: Minister Mah
S.Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia 27 Jan 10;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said public housing in the 21st century must evolve to meet changing needs.

But the core mission of the HDB remains unchanged - that of providing Singaporeans with affordable quality homes and building cohesive communities.

Speaking at the International Housing Conference in Singapore, Mr Mah noted the HDB will face increasing challenges due to shifting demographics. These include an aging population which may require further innovations in housing policies or building design.

These include an aging population, which may require further innovations in housing policies or building design.

In addition, with more new Singapore citizens, greater integration efforts will be required.

Mr Mah said rapid globalisation and affluence may also prompt other lifestyle changes and with it, increased expectations of what public housing can provide.

Singapore is also facing the steadily ageing profile of HDB flats and towns. So there will be an urgent need to upgrade, redevelop and rejuvenate older estates.

Mr Mah said HDB must meet these challenges and continue achieving environmental, economic and social sustainability. This will contribute to Singapore's overall quest to provide a green and healthy living environment, through careful long-term planning.

In the past half century, HDB achieved much for Singapore and garnered significant international recognition, including the UN Public Service Award.

And he urged HDB to continue its relentless pursuit of sustainable public housing for the next 50 years and beyond. - CNA/vm

HDB looks forward on its 50th birthday
Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 28 Jan 10;

EVEN as Singapore's public housing agency looks back to celebrate its achievements over the past 50 years, it will face increasing challenges that mean evolving to meet changing needs.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB), which marks its 50th birthday on Feb 1, must meet these challenges while maintaining its three-pronged approach of environmental, economic and social sustainability, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said yesterday.

He was addressing more than 500 delegates from around the world at the opening ceremony of a three-day international housing conference hosted by the HDB and held at Suntec City.

'In this globalised world, we face many common challenges: climate change, migration, demographic shifts, shrinking resources, among others,' he told the conference. 'These changes impact all cities alike, large or small, developed or developing, sooner or later.'

The conference was a great opportunity for policymakers, architects and urban planners to exchange ideas.

The growing challenges that HDB will face include an ageing population, which may require further innovations in housing policies or building design, he said. Others included integrating the growing number of new Singapore citizens and the effects of rising affluence.

'As the public housing authority, HDB's key task is to find innovative ways to accommodate our people, taking these challenges into account,' he said.

Speakers at the three-day conference, which discussed themes such as environmental sustainability, include housing ministers from Spain, Finland and Australia, and senior government officials from the United States and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Transport and Housing Eva Cheng said Hong Kong faced similar challenges as Singapore over land size and a growing population, and had ensured public housing for lower-income earners. She will be speaking at the conference today.

Addressing the audience, HDB chief executive Tay Kim Poh also acknowledged yesterday that HDB has 'achieved much that we are proud of', but it is also mindful of the 'challenges to housing that are shaped by the changing needs and expectations of our people'.