Debated in Parliament on 4 Jan 2021.
Mr Don Wee asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider liberalising the use of under-utilised upper levels of multi-storey carparks for childcare centres and activity centres for senior citizens.
HDB works closely with the relevant government agencies to plan for and provide Social Communal Facilities (SCF) such as Child Care Centres and Senior Activity Centres in new public housing developments. Apart from the facilities that are built upfront, HDB also safeguards space within HDB void decks or multi-storey car parks (MSCP) that can be readily converted for SCF use if and when the need arises.
If more space is needed for SCFs, HDB will work with agencies to consider using the upper levels of MSCPs. However, these spaces may have technical and operational constraints. For instance, we take into consideration factors such as (but not limited to):
1. Demand for parking;
2. Planning agencies' requirements for the SCF;
3. Safety considerations as well as regulatory authorities’ requirements around structural loading, fire safety and accessibility; and
4. Potential for dis-amenities to residents.
As each site may have unique considerations, such requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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