Debated in Parliament on 12 Jan 2022.
Mr Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for National Development (a) how is HDB harnessing the latest technology to build lift access for HDB blocks that remain without direct lift access; and (b) as at 31 December 2021, how many residents have successfully applied for the Lift Access Housing Grant.
The Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) was launched in 2001 to provide direct lift access to flats and enhance convenience for residents, especially the elderly and less mobile. At the start of the programme, there were more than 5,300 HDB blocks without 100% lift access. Of these, more than 1,000 blocks were initially found to be unfeasible for LUP due to cost or technical constraints.
Over the years, HDB has adopted innovative technical solutions and conducted pilot trials to explore options to bring direct lift access to such blocks. Some examples of solutions that have been successfully implemented include lifts that do not have a machine room at the top of the shafts (i.e. machine room-less elevators) and bubble lifts.
Through these various efforts, the vast majority of the 5,300 blocks have benefitted from LUP. There remain about 150 blocks, with about 2,000 units without direct lift access, where it is not feasible to implement LUP due to high cost, or existing technical and site constraints. For such blocks, HDB will continue to explore new methods to bring down LUP costs and alternatives to improve accessibility for residents living in flats without direct lift access, such as powered stair climbers to enable wheelchair users to move up and down staircases.
Residents living in these blocks who are in urgent need of direct lift access due to medical conditions or mobility reasons are eligible for the Lift access Housing Grant (LHG) of up to $30,000 when they buy another flat with direct lift access.
As of December 2021, HDB received 35 complete applications for the Lift access Housing Grant. Of these, 28 applications were approved, while two are under evaluation.
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