New round of HDB upgrades targets 29,000 homes

The project aims to improve facilities, safety, and overall liveability for seniors.

About 29,000 Housing & Development Board (HDB) households will benefit from the upgrading works under the latest rounds of the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) and the Silver Upgrading Programme (SUP).

The projects are intended to improve estate facilities, safety features, and general liveability, with a particular focus on making neighbourhoods more supportive for seniors.

The Ministry of National Development (MND) and HDB have picked 17 projects for the 17th batch of the NRP.

These projects are spread across Singapore and will receive more than $130m in funding, covering close to 20,000 households.

The NRP, which started in 2007, upgrades older HDB estates at the block and precinct level, initially targeting flats built up to 1995.

This was later extended in 2025 to include flats built up to 1999.

The scope of each project depends on resident feedback and typically includes features such as improved fitness trails connecting senior-centric amenities and wayfinding features along routes frequently used by seniors, aimed at supporting elderly residents.

The government fully funds the programme, whilst town councils manage design and construction through appointed consultants and contractors.

Since its launch, the NRP has allocated over $1.6b across 246 projects, reaching about 315,500 households.

As of end-March 2026, 141 projects covering about 199,000 households have been completed, whilst 105 are still ongoing.

Residents living in older precincts that have previously undergone upgrading can still benefit from senior-friendly enhancements under the SUP.

Launched in August 2024, the SUP targets older HDB precincts, offering senior-centric upgrades to help seniors age in place more comfortably. Like the NRP, the SUP is fully funded by the government.

In its third batch, 10 precincts in Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, and Queenstown have been selected, covering about 9,000 households.

Works are expected to start in the second half of 2026 and be completed progressively from 2028.

Earlier batches are already in progress. Four precincts in Ang Mo Kio under the first batch are under construction and expected to finish in 2026.

A second batch of 12 precincts across Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, and Toa Payoh are in the design stage, with completion expected from 2027 onwards.

Residents have also been engaged through activities such as a Community Improvement Walk (CIW) in Toa Payoh in March 2026, where seniors provided feedback on planned upgrades.

HDB says the goal is to keep older estates livable for ageing residents so they can remain in their communities.

The SUP is expected to be expanded further to additional towns, including Bedok, Clementi, and Kallang-Whampoa, with details to be announced later.