NRP extension into 90s flats?
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We understand that residents in blocks built just after 1989 may feel that their blocks are also ageing, but they have just missed out on NRP, and they wish that NRP can also be extended to them.
We will review the selection criteria and see how the NRP can be extended to blocks built in the early 1990s. If and when we do make such an extension, we will give priority to towns which have not benefitted from MUP or IUP, like those in the Member's constituency (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC).
- http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/mnd-review-criteria-neighbourhood-renewal-programme
Under NRP, MUP (Main Upgrading Programme) and IUP (Interim Upgrading Programme), more than 70% of flats built before 1989 now have features which match those found in flats built in the 1990s, such as lift at every floor, new letter boxes and fitness corners.
They even have features which most flats built in the 1990s do not have, such as pavilion, drop-off porch, .... (what else? hmm.)
Meanwhile, the newer HDB flats built after 2006 have features such as rooftop garden, an artificial "sound wall" (I walked inside a new BTO a few months ago and was amazed by how quiet it was in the middle of the new flats), water tanks of a different design, etc.
If NRP is extended to flats built in the 1990s, I guess it is mainly for maintenance purpose (eg. change floor tiles) only, not so much on adding new features. Because if add features of BTO flats, won't it make the original NRP quite ineffective, since this would be unfair to flats built before 1989?
If NRP was originally introduced to make pre-1990 flats similar to flats built in the 1990s, wouldn't the extended one be just to add into the 1990s flats whatever is extra in the pre-1990 ones - which may be only a handful of them?
If so, I think it is better to end NRP when 100% of eligible pre-1990 flats are covered, and enhance the scope of the Town Councils's improvement works in flats built in the 1990s.
What do you think?
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