Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on Lift Upgrading Programme

Jul 14, 2015


Mr Zainal Sapari: To ask the Minister for National Development whether he can provide an update on the plans to assist the elderly and physically challenged who require direct lift access but whose HDB blocks are deemed unsuitable for the Lift Upgrading Programme on the grounds of economic and/or technical viability. 


Mr Zaqy Mohamad: To ask the Minister for National Development 

(a) what are the measures to help residents who do not benefit from the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) or who do not have a lift on their floor; 

(b) how many of such units have approached HDB for assistance to allow them to purchase another unit or move into new flats for lift access; 

(c) whether the Ministry provides special consideration for such cases as many may need lifts for mobility reasons and in their old age have difficulty getting new loans from HDB or have already taken two concessionary loans; 

(d) how many residential units are currently still not able to benefit from having a lift on their floor as the block does not qualify for LUP; and 

(e) what proportion of these units is due to technical infeasibility and what proportion is due to insufficient units to meet the maximum share cap for the project. 
 

Mr Gan Thiam Poh: To ask the Minister for National Development 

(a) what is the outcome of the trial involving two new lift solutions to provide direct lift access to flats not eligible for the lift upgrading programme (LUP); and 

(b) whether HDB has found the lift solutions suitable to be implemented for flats not eligible for LUP. 

Answer: 

While we try to offer the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) to as many HDB blocks as possible, there are some blocks where the LUP is not feasible due to technical constraints or prohibitively high cost. Through the adoption of new technologies and innovative solutions, HDB has reduced the number of such blocks to about 200. We continue to explore ways so that even more households can benefit. 

For example, HDB is piloting two new solutions - the Pneumatic Vacuum Elevator (PVE) and the Vertical Platform Lift (VPL). The PVE has been turned on for public trial last month, while the VPL is currently being evaluated. HDB is testing the new lift solutions to ensure that they are safe and technically reliable before rolling them out. Surveys will also be conducted to gather feedback from users of the PVE and VPL, and the results will help us determine if they are suitable for wider implementation. 

Residents who wish to move to a unit with direct lift access can sell their existing flat and either buy a resale flat or a new subsidised flat if they meet eligibility conditions. Meanwhile, Singaporean residents who are in urgent need of direct lift access due to medical conditions or disability may approach HDB for housing and financing assistance. HDB assesses each request on a case-by-case basis to see how best we can render help.