36,000 HDB households set to benefit from neighbourhood upgrading works (2025)

Over 36,000 households living in HDB flats across Singapore are set to benefit from upgrades within their neighbourhoods under two different schemes. These upgrades could include the introduction of new facilities such as covered walkways, drop-off porches and senior-friendly amenities.

Under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP), 17 projects island-wide, including areas in Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Sengkang, will get a $165 million facelift, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said on April 6.

These upgrades are expected to benefit more than 25,000 households.

HDB said on April 6 that improvements for each project under the NRP are tailored based on residents' feedback. They include the building of sheltered linkways, seating areas, fitness corners, drop-off porches and residents' corners.

Separately, the Silver Upgrading Programme which provides senior-friendly enhancements to older precincts that already underwent upgrading in the past, will be rolled out progressively to another 12 precincts. A precinct refers to a smaller area within a larger neighborhood.

These precincts are in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah and Toa Payoh, and will benefit 11,000 households, Mr Lee said.

Speaking at the Housing Board's Community Build Day held at a neighbourhood park in Toa Payoh, he added: "Now, HDB homes have a very special place in many Singaporeans hearts, so we continuously want to keep them livable and vibrant for residents and to refresh them to meet evolving needs over time."

Works under the NRP are fully funded by the Government.

Since 2007, when the programme was first introduced, over $1.5 billion has been set aside to fund 229 projects. This total does not include the latest batch of 17 projects.

Mr Lee said 131 projects have been completed by March, benefitting about 187,000 households. The remaining 98 projects, comprising over 103,000 households, are in progress.

All eligible HDB blocks built up to 1995 have been selected for the NRP, and the programme has been extended to blocks built up to 1999, HDB said.

The board will also increase funding for NRP projects in order to provide more senior-friendly amenities, including therapeutic gardens, fitness trails and wayfinding features. Such features can include signages with pictograms, for instance.

The budget for senior-friendly amenities under the NRP will be raised to around $6,600 per flat, up from $6,100 per flat at present.

These enhancements are in line with Age Well SG, a national programme that support seniors in ageing well in their homes and their communities, Mr Lee noted.

As for the Silver Upgrading Programme, HDB said upgrading works at the 12 precincts will be completed in stages from the second half of 2027. Details on the specific works will be announced when ready, it added.

The programme focuses on upgrading works in precincts that have higher densities of seniors but which may not qualify for the NRP.

HDB said works in four precincts in Chong Boon in Ang Mo Kio - which were selected for the inaugural batch of the programme in 2024 and consists about 3,400 households - are slated for completion in the second half of 2026.

Fitness trails with senior-friendly exercise equipment, rest stops with seats and a therapeutic garden were among the new features planned for the precincts, HDB said, adding that it took into consideration feedback from residents.

Turning to upgrading programmes at the flat level, Mr Lee said more grants will be provided to residents whose homes are ineligible for the Lift Upgrading Programme. This programme, first introduced in 2001, retrofits older blocks with lifts that stop on every floor.

He said the Lift Upgrading Programme has provided direct lift access to residents in over 5,000 HDB blocks since 2001.

Although 99 per cent of all HDB blocks have direct lift access, he noted that the remaining 1 per cent are not eligible for the programme due to cost or technical constraints.

"We recognise that some households residing in blocks (without direct lift access on every floor) may have more urgent need for direct lift access due to their family members' medical or mobility conditions," HDB added.

From April 6, the Lift Access Housing Grant - which helps residents in urgent need of direct lift access to buy a new HDB flat or a resale flat - will give up to $80,000 for families and up to $40,000 for singles.

The grant, introduced in 2020, previously gave up to $30,000 for families and $15,000 for singles.

Mr Lee said: "We hope that this significant enhancement will make it easier for even more households with mobility challenges to move to a new home that can better support their accessibility needs."