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HDB to build two-room flats in Sengkang
By Noor Mohd Aziz, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 July 2006 1652 hrs

	Perspective of Fernvale Vista project

The HDB will be building two-room flats for the first time in 20 years.

The first such project will be at Fernvale Vista in Sengkang.

The HDB will build 86 two-room flats at Fernvale Vista and will consider building more if there is a demand.

These will be ready in three to four years.

With a price tag of between $54,000 and $75,000, they are targeted at the low-income group - those with a monthly household income of $1,000.

Fernvale Vista will also have 92 three-room flats and 330 four-room flats.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said: "This is part and parcel of what we've been doing and that is to expand the range of options for Singaporeans from all walks of life to enjoy the privileges and pleasures of living in a HDB environment, to own their homes and to have a stake in Singapore."

To help low-income families, tenants of HDB rental flats will be given priority.

Under the Tenants' Priority Scheme, 5% of the new 2-room and 3-room flats on sale will be set aside for these families.

In addition, eligible first-time HDB home owners with a monthly household income of $3,000 and below can also apply for an additional grant of between $5,000 and $20,000.

Mr Mah said: "The announcement we have made today will allow families, especially the low-income families, to have access to their own home, the dream home. It will be affordable to them. It will have features to make living in these flats much more pleasant, much more comfortable, for now as well as the future."

Also, all new HDB developments will come equipped with facilities to help the elderly get around.

Flat dwellers can expect features like ramps at doorways, wider corridors and wheelchair-accessible common toilets in all new developments.

These features will be user-friendly, not only to the old and young, but also the physically-challenged.

And to help low-income families with urgent housing needs, the HDB will convert about 180 five-room and executive units in Jurong West and Sengkang into 2-room and 3-room flats.

They will be available by the year-end. - CNA/ir