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Makeover completed for 11 neighbourhood centres

SINGAPORE — Works on more than half of the neighbourhood centres earmarked in 2011 for upgrading in East Coast, Jurong Lake and Hougang have concluded.

Overview photo of Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre, a recently upgraded Neighbourhood Centre (NC) under HDB's Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme. As part of the rejuvenation of the East Coast, Jurong Lake and Hougang towns/estates, about S$42 million has been set aside for the upgrading of 21 NCs. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

Overview photo of Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre, a recently upgraded Neighbourhood Centre (NC) under HDB's Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) programme. As part of the rejuvenation of the East Coast, Jurong Lake and Hougang towns/estates, about S$42 million has been set aside for the upgrading of 21 NCs. Photo: Nuria Ling/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Works on more than half of the neighbourhood centres earmarked in 2011 for upgrading in East Coast, Jurong Lake and Hougang have concluded.

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) said on Sunday (April 9) that 11 of the 21 neighbourhood centres have been spruced up as of last month at a cost of S$19 million, under its Remaking Our Heartland programme.

The remaining 10 centres, including those in Bedok South Road and Jurong West Street 41, are in various stages of being upgraded and will be completed progressively by 2019.

When completed fully, more than 800,000 residents and 1,500 shops in the estates will stand to gain from the S$42 million revitalisation.

In 2015, the Government announced plans to rejuvenate three other towns: Woodlands, Toa Payoh and Pasir Ris. Fourteen neighbourhood centres housing about 670 shops are slated to be upgraded, which will benefit over half a million residents.

Details of the finalised renewal plans will be unveiled at exhibitions later this month, when residents can give their feedback.

The improvements to the neighbourhood centres are meant to improve the identity of the neighbourhoods, infuse more greenery and fashion more spaces for communities to gather.

Take, for example, the Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre in the Jurong Lake area, where upgrading works were wrapped up in October.

Comprising 65 shops, eateries, a market and a supermarket, the neighbourhood centre — built more than three decades ago — spans Blocks 150 to 159 Bukit Batok Street 11 and serves about 27,000 residents living nearby.

Its maiden radical facelift has made it the first neighbourhood centre to have a community pavilion with rooftop greenery. The roof of the 280sqm pavilion boasts an assortment of plants in different hues and has a self-irrigating system to harvest rainwater.

The roof lowers the pavilion’s ambient temperature, for greater levels of comfort. And the pavilion features elements such as energy-efficient light-emitting diode lights, fans and power points for the convenience of residents who attend parties or gather there.

 

The HDB also heeded residents’ calls for a community herb garden to be set up, and 15 residents have stepped forward to tend to it.

The garden, the first of its kind in a neighbourhood centre, has more than 30 herb species now, up from nine initially. And it doubles up as an outdoor classroom for children from the nearby childcare centres.

 

Besides a new playground for residents and children to keep fit and play together, a green promenade, nearly 50m long, was created to ease accessibility in the neighbourhood centre.

Residents who spoke to TODAY welcomed the improvements but hoped to see more elements. Parents such as production operator Siew Shwu Ling, 40, said a playground with water features would allow children to engage in water activities. 

A fellow resident, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, 40, agreed and added that more parents would then take their children to the centre, thereby drumming up business for nearby shops.

He said there should also be more parking spots and food centres in the area, as it could take up to 20 minutes to find a table at the food centres now.

Shop owner Thomas Ong, of Beng Lai Heng Tailor & Garment Trading, said the enhancements have encouraged more residents to venture into the neighbourhood centre, resulting in 10 per cent more business since December.

He hopes that the upcoming Build-To-Order flats would see “more residents ... come for shopping”.

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