Provision of Shared Common Space to Facilitate Informal Interactions

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for National Development (a) how HDB plans for the provision of shared common spaces, such as pavilions and void decks, in new precincts; (b) whether common space provisions have declined over the years in terms of (i) venues per resident and (ii) area per resident; and (c) how will HDB ensure future adequate venue space for (i) informal interaction, (ii) community gatherings and (iii) bereavements or funeral wakes.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) actively plans for common spaces where the community can gather in the design of HDB towns and estates. The approach has evolved over the years, along with the design of HDB blocks. Compared with older slab blocks with long corridors, newer blocks are generally taller and more compact, with fewer units per floor. While this optimises land use and provides residents with greater privacy, the trade-off is a smaller void deck space under each block.

With this shift in block design, HDB has embedded a variety of purpose-built facilities and amenities in newer precincts to serve as common spaces and create opportunities for community interaction and bonding. For example, since the 1990s, precinct pavilions have been provided in new developments to provide space for community activities. HDB has also progressively introduced other amenities in newer precincts, such as 3G playgrounds, sky parks and gardens on rooftops of multi-storey carparks, to facilitate interactions by residents of all ages.

HDB continues to explore how to maximise community interactions with the smaller void deck spaces in new developments. For example, HDB introduced Community Living Rooms in 2014, which are areas located near lift lobbies and letter boxes, specially provided with seats and tables to facilitate informal small group interactions. Where large social community facilities, such as childcare centres, are required in precincts, HDB may integrate them in multi-storey carparks or construct them as standalone blocks. This will free up the limited void deck spaces for informal interaction.

Surveys of HDB residents have shown that community spaces provided in precincts are generally sufficient, and that residents are satisfied with such facilities. Nonetheless, HDB will continue to review the precinct provisions to ensure they are sufficient and support a variety of community events, in accordance with the changing demographics and needs of each HDB estate.