Conversion of HDB Void Deck Spaces for Specific Uses

Mrs Lina Chiam asked the Minister for National Development whether there can be a policy for residents to be consulted and a poll taken when there is to be a conversion of HDB void deck spaces for the specific uses of VWOs, grassroot organisations, Town Councils and constituency offices.

HDB blocks are built with void decks as a deliberate part of their design and are a common space to serve the interests and needs of the neighbourhood. The void deck, for instance, serves as a potential space for use to set up social and communal facilities benefiting the community. These include childcare centres, senior care centres as well as Residents' Centres.

The supervising agency will assess the need for the facility, with input obtained from residents in the neighbourhood, grassroots leaders and the local Advisor through house-to-house visits, surveys and community events like block parties. The feedback collected is considered and evaluated carefully against the assessment of the most suitable locations in the context of the whole neighbourhood or precinct before a decision is made whether to proceed. As the community facilities are meant to serve residents in the area beyond just any single block, it is not practical to conduct formal polls only among residents living in the block where a facility is to be located.

Town Council offices support the Town Councils' functions of managing and maintaining the estates. They may be located at HDB void decks if there are no suitable commercial premises available. Currently, Constituency Offices are not located at HDB void decks but at the Community Centres/Clubs.