Sustainable Affordable Housing for a Nation The Singapore Success Story:

About Surbana:

• Formerly the Technical Consultancy Division of the Housing & Development Board ( HDB ) of Singapore • Unique International Multidisciplinary Building Consultancy Outfit • Expertise grounded & perfected in practice for over half a century • Housing for Singaporeans - 27 World Class Townships – 1,000,000 homes • Key Player in Singapore’s Success Story • To date, projects in 27 countries & 95 cities • We plan, Design & Implement Livable Futures • We pride ourselves with providing 1st mover solutions that help transforming communities globally • Uncontrolled Urban Sprawl • High Unemployment

 Sustainable Affordable Housing Shortage:

• Aging Strained Infrastructure • Increasing Crime Rate • Pollution • Traffic Congestion • Lack of Economic Sustainability • Energy & Water Security

Government Commitment:

1. Land Banking:

• In 1967, the government legislated the Land Acquisition Act which empowered it to acquire land at low cost for public use. • Today, 90% of land is owned by the state as opposed to 49% in 1965. • This Act, together with sensitive resettlement policies, enabled HDB to clear squatters and slum areas smoothly and, and in their place, build new and a HDB flats.

2. Establishing an Institution to Focus only on Sustainable Affordable Housing:

• The Housing & Development Act (1960) gave the Housing and Development Board (HDB) legal authority on public housing matters.

3. Establishing of the Central Provident Fund ( CPF ):

Key Principles • Self Reliance • Strong Work Ethics • Family Support

4. Government – the Banker of Public Housing:

• Cheaper Financing for the Poor • Land Cost not factored into the Sale Price of Apartment

5. Leveraging off the Social Engineering Dimension of Public Housing:

• Ethnic Integration Policy • Economic Integration Policy • Designing Total Living Environments • Policies to encourage family units to stay together • Building a more cohesive society

Conclusion:

• Undisputed control of land use made possible through extensive Land Banking at the start of Nation Building • Land Cost is not injected into the sale price of public housing • Sustainable Affordable Housing Financing through the Compulsory National Savings instrument CPF – providing Singaporeans with the means to pay for their public housing • Development & Implementation of standardized housing types and investment in manpower upgrading and building technology from the sole provider of Public Housing ( HDB ) – key to speeding up housing building programme without compromise in quality. • Establishment of strict rules regarding the purchase and sales of public housing together with a well implemented estates maintenance strategy have helped enhance asset values of citizens through an established secondary market for social housing. ALSO READ: Price Expectations and the U.S. Housing Boom