3Gen BTO flats in Yishun draw strong response

SINGAPORE — National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said one-third of applicants for the category of five-room and three-generation (3Gen) flats in Yishun in the recent Build-To-Order (BTO) exercise were from multi-generation families.

378 applicants were from multi-generation families, out of a total of 1,152 applicants for flats in the category.

In the past year, only 3 per cent of five-room flat applicants had applied for a flat to live with their parents under the Married Child Priority Scheme, noted Mr Khaw.

“The launch of 3Gen flats has clearly encouraged more to consider multi-generation living. This is a good sign,” Mr Khaw said in his blog post this morning (Nov 13).

In the recent BTO public housing application exercise, 84 3Gen flats in Yishun were made available in a pilot offer.

These flats were grouped together with 260 five-room flats to give applicants an alternative choice if 3Gen flats are no longer available when their turn comes.

Mr Khaw said among the applicants from multi-generation families, two thirds were second-time applicants upgrading to a larger flat for their growing family, and to live with their parents.

Of the first-timer multi-generation families, six in 10 are either expecting or have children below the age of 16.

These families may be currently living with their parents, and can look forward to enjoying more space with a 3Gen flat, said Mr Khaw.

One in 10 of these first-timer households had no children.

“I am happy they are planning ahead to move into a larger flat to better take care of their ageing parents and future children,” he said.

Mr Khaw also said: “As our population ages, family care and support will become increasingly important for the well-being of our seniors.

“They also help to enrich family relations by sharing their experiences, and lending an extra hand in caring for their grandchildren. We should continue to facilitate multi-generation living for Singaporeans who wish to do so.” CHANNEL NEWSASIA