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SINGAPORE : Singaporeans may see more public housing flats built by private developers if there is a demand for it.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the market would have to determine if these new-style developments pick up in Singapore.

He was speaking in an exclusive interview with MediaCorp News.

It was announced in March that private developers can now design, build and even set the prices of HDB flats.

Mr Mah said this would meet the housing demands of Singaporeans which have changed over the past 40 years.

But, one thing has to remain the same - the experience of living in an HDB flat.

Mr Mah said: "I believe that it is good for Singaporeans to have that HDB experience - to live in a HDB estate, to grow up with communal living, living in an estate or environment where people are different, races different, customs different."

The first project to be built by a private developer will be at Tampines Avenue 6 and the tender to build it will be called by the end of the year.

How well it does will determine if more will be built.

Looking ahead, Mr Mah said his vision for the nation's development was to make Singapore a more exciting place.

He said: "Certain things you want safety, you want certainty, assurance. But you cannot be too boring, otherwise nobody would like to come and visit."

So Singapore needs to inject an X-factor in its next phase of development, to get people talking. - CNA /ch