Development Plans for Hougang Town Centre under Remaking Our Heartland Programme

Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for National Development when will plans to develop Hougang Town Centre under the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme announced in 2011 be released, given that the projected timeline for the development site to be launched is three years.

The Minister of State for National Development (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for National Development): Madam, HDB is currently working with the relevant agencies on the infrastructural and technical requirements for this land parcel at the Hougang Town Centre. The plan is for a mixed use development, integrated with the existing MRT station and bus interchange. Because of the complexity in this integrated development, agencies will need more time to resolve various technical issues before the site can be launched for tender.

Madam, just two questions. Is there any indication as to roughly when the plan will be up? The second question is: what is the standard timeframe between announcement of ROH and implementation? I understand three areas were

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announced in 2011 and I think the other two areas have made progress already.

Madam, I want to assure the Member that progress is being made and the ROH for Hougang is not limited to the Town Centre alone. There are various aspects which are currently on-going.

With regard to the question on other sites, the context of each site is actually very different. Therefore, the plans for every town have to be customised according to the specific needs and requirements for the town.

The site in Hougang Town Centre, specifically asked by the Member, where the existing Hougang MRT station is, it will house, as I have mentioned earlier, an integrated development comprising many different uses, such as residential space, commercial retail space, bus interchange and the town plaza. Given the scale and complexity of the project and site constraints, the various Government agencies involved have to work on a detailed planning of facilities to be provided. Many stakeholders are involved and the interests of the residents have to be carefully considered at the same time. Agencies' plans and timeliness also have to be coordinated. In addition, the requirements of the tender have to be well coordinated in order to ensure that the development enhances the existing Hougang Town Centre to best serve the residents of Hougang.

I want to reaffirm the point that it is not that the ROH is not moving. There are other aspects of the proposals that are currently on-going. It is just that the Town Centre requires a lot more work in terms of planning and the complexity of the project requires more time for the different agencies.