The project, comprising 50 units of three-room and 332 units of four-room flats, is located near the Woodlands Regional Centre and is served by the Woodlands MRT station and bus interchange.

It is the HDB’s first project in the area in recent years. Those interested have until: June 23 to submit their applications.

The launch of the latest BTO project came even as the construction industry continues to grapple with rising costs.

:Speaking at a separate event yesterday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said that the HDB is containing construction costs as much as it could, such as by simplifying some of the projects, or by combining them to enjoy greater economies of scale.

It is also using more economical materials and reducing the construction pressure by withholding some projects so that it does not add to the demand for construction, said Mr Mah during a visit to the HDB headquarters at Toa Payoh yesterday to congratulate its staff for winning the United Nations Public Service Award.

But Mr Mah assured Singaporeans that HDB flats would continue to be sold at discounted prices while the Main and Interim Upgrading Programmes will continue, reported Channel NewsAsia.

According to the HDB, the UN award is in recognition of the Home Ownership Programme, which has successfully provided over 80 per cent of Singaporeans with affordable quality flats, with 95 per cent of them owning these homes.

In his speech, Mr Mah noted that the HDB will continue to face challenges as it strives to meet the housing needs of a growing population with different needs and aspirations.

“As we welcome a larger and more diverse population into our fold, the challenge for HDB is to find innovative ways to accommodate everyone in a comfortable way, without compromising our living environment and social cohesion.

“We will need to ensure that public housing can help achieve the twin objectives of meeting the housing needs of the majority of the population, as well as providing a social safety net for lower-income Singaporeans,” Mr Mah said.

And with the growing ageing population, the HDB “will need to focus on meeting the housing needs of the more vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and the lower-income, so that they can level up with the rest of the population,” he added. -AGENCIES

Source : Today – 11 Jun 2008

The post Marsiling goes BTO: Straits Vista project launched as HDB wins UN award appeared first on LushHomeMedia.

HDB said the award is in recognition of the Home Ownership Programme, which has successfully provided over 80 per cent of Singaporeans with affordable quality flats, of them 95 per cent own these homes.

Describing it as a significant milestone in its history, HDB said the award represents the international community’s recognition of Singapore’s public housing programme.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan visited the HDB headquarters at Toa Payoh on Tuesday to congratulate the management and staff on this achievement.

In his speech, Mr Mah spoke on the dual challenges of providing for more vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the lower-income, as well as making HDB flats attractive to more well-off Singaporeans.

He also felt that a shared experience of HDB living was important to developing a collective Singapore identity.

HDB’s “Remaking Our Heartland” programme is set to give new, middle-aged and old HDB estates a major makeover, to turn them into “vibrant homes.”

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 10 Jun 2008

The post HDB wins UN Public Service Award for home ownership programme appeared first on LushHomeMedia.