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Asia-Pacific housing stakeholders’ call to ‘build forward better’ continues at World Urban Forum, Poland

BANGKOK, Jul 1, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Key findings from the newly published Asia-Pacific Forum report will be brought to the global conversations on housing and shelter amid the impacts of climate change, and COVID-19 during the 11th World Urban Forum on June 26-30, 2022, at Katowice, Poland. "Building forward better through inclusive housing means that each one of us, especially the most vulnerable families we serve through housing solutions, has a voice in the process and a role to play in increasing access to a decent place to live," said Luis Noda, Habitat for Humanity's Asia-Pacific vice president and one of the speakers at the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum. "This core belief guides Habitat for Humanity as we lend our voices on WUF11 discussions on building resilience to a broad range of shocks and threats through an innovative and inclusive approach, thus working toward a sustainable and green future for our global community."WUF11's overall theme will be focusing on overcoming the multiple urban crises while transforming our cities for a better urban future. In alignment with WUF11 thematic objectives, the participants from the Asia-Pacific forum also focused on the shared responsibility and individual roles of the government, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the donor community in achieving appropriate housing for everyone. Forming partnerships and encouraging social participation and innovation that allow for a sustainable response to the housing problem are critical in strengthening resilience against other factors that compound the housing challenges of the region--the effects of climate change, inadequate national housing policies and programs, limited access to technologies, and lack of empowered communities. As Asia-Pacific continues to feel the long-term impact of COVID-19--UN estimates that 200 million people might be forced into extreme poverty by 2030 and the region is one of the most highly affected areas--the housing sector remains critical to the region's economic, social, and environmental recovery. Other WUF11 themes resonate with other critical issues that surfaced during the APHF, such as effective responses to the housing challenge can also drive urban development and should be equally concerned with the environment. Greening the housing value chain can help reduce costs and impacts in the short and long term. Thus, it requires a shift to sustainable methods on material production, design/manufacturing, usage, recycling, among others; and should be supported by access to information and technologies, capacity building, and resources. More than 900 housing stakeholders, including the public, private, and civil society sectors, from 53 locations have participated at the eighth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum held last December 7-9, 2021. The discussions above are summarized in the final report available at the APHF website, www.aphousingforum.org. About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in U.S.A. Since its founding in 1976, the housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.Media contact: Maetavarin Maneekulpan+66-2260-5820mae@tqpr.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Affordable housing has created huge market potentials for prefabricated buildings

HONG KONG, Jan 17, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Affordable housing has created huge market potentials for prefabricated and green buildings.Recently, frequent implementation of affordable housing support policies has created huge market potentials for prefabricated and green buildings. Market analysis pointed out that PC component manufacturers in the prefabricated construction supply chain will be key beneficiaries from these new policies.As the most preferred brand in the prefabricated construction industry for three consecutive years, Broad Homes (02163.HK) will likely benefit from the recent policy catalysts. To highlight, the Company operates in both to-B and to-C business under its dual mode business model, which gives the Company potential to grasp onto a larger market share in this industry uptrend. First and second tier cities are actively responding to affordable housing policies.According to market data, since the beginning of December 2021, the Prefabricated Building Index (931020) rose nearly 10%, driven by discussions during the Politburo meeting in December to further promote construction of affordable housing. Similar discussions also took place during the Central Economic Work Conference, indicating growing interest from high-level officials.In the past year, affordable housing support policies have been frequently issued. The Politburo meeting mentioned the promotion of affordable housing construction for the first time in April and again in December. In addition, in July, the Politburo discussed the need to accelerate rental housing development and implemented supporting policies surrounding land usage and taxation. During the Central Economic Work Conference in December, discussions surrounding the need to "accelerate the development of the long-term rental housing market, promote the construction of indemnificatory housing, support the commercial housing market and better meet reasonable housing needs of buyers" are highlighted. Huachuang Securities pointed out that both the Politburo meeting and the Central Economic Work Conference have prioritized affordable housing before commercial housing, reiterating high-level officials' focus on affordable housing.In terms of specific development goals, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the "Notice on the Monitoring and Evaluation of the Development of Affordable Rental Housing in 2021" in November 2021. The notice monitoring and evaluation of the development of affordable rental housing in 2021 in November. The notice outlined that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the supply of affordable rental housing will be largely increased, and the proportion of new affordable rental housing to total new housing supply is targeted to reach 30% or more.Meanwhile, key first and second tier cities have responded actively to recent policies and announced relevant targets for affordable housing construction during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. Among them, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen set targets of over 45% for new affordable housing to total new housing supply. The affordable housing industry is one of the most important application areas for prefabricated buildings. Therefore, the acceleration and expansion of the affordable housing market will generate growing demand for prefabricated buildings. According to Huachuang Securities' estimates, the annual new construction area of 123 million sqm corresponds to RMB 446.3 billion in affordable housing related investments, indicating huge volume growth in the affordable housing sector. Considering part of the growth will be hindered by the impact of fluctuations in real estate regulations, the proportion of prefabricated buildings to new construction buildings will continue to increase, benefiting industry leaders in the prefabricated construction sector. Prefabricated buildings is the most optimal method of construction under the "dual carbon" targets Prefabricated building refers to the use of modern manufacturing, transportation, installation and scientific management of production in replacement of traditional production where manufacturing process is more scattered, offers lower quality and efficiency, and requires intensive human labor. The key characteristics of prefabricated construction is standardization of architectural designs, industrialization of component production, mechanization of construction, and scientific organization and management. These include residential buildings produced through prefabricated construction methods.There are two reasons to support why prefabricated buildings best fit affordable housing demands.Firstly, prefabricated construction method significantly shortens the construction period. Time-saving is the key advantage of prefabricated buildings because early delivery corresponds to earlier collection of rent. According to Everbright Securities' estimates, assuming rental price of affordable housing is RMB40 per sqm per month, saving 9 months of construction period would correspond to a total cost savings of RMB360 per sqm. Secondly, prefabricated buildings help reduce environmental burden throughout the construction process. Different from traditional construction methods, prefabricated construction reduces manual operation and on-site wet construction, and incorporates digitally integrated technologies to support the modernization, intelligence, and other green construction characteristics. Prefabricated buildings also best fit the low-carbon building criteria for affordable housing. The "dual carbon" target acts as an important requirement for construction projects and helps guide the industry towards adopting more green methods of construction. Founded in 2006, Broad Homes is the largest manufacturer of PC components and PC production equipment in China. In November 2010, Broad Homes was listed on the HKEX and is also the first company to IPO in the prefabricated construction sector.According to Broad Homes' 2021 Interim Results, the Company's PC component revenue increased 12.4% YoY to RMB1.138 billion; PC production equipment business increased 306.6% YoY to RMB221 million. The increase in revenue is driven by market expansion and growing demand of PC components.As the pioneer and leader of China's construction industrialization, Broad Homes adheres to green development. Guided by the "14th Five-Year Plan" and 2035 targets, the Company aims to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of industrialized production, better serve the need for green and low-carbon development in rural areas, and explore innovative ways to promote the construction of affordable housing. Broad Home's innovative prefabricated product development maximizes time value saved from early delivery. It is worth noting that, in addition to the PC component business on the to-B end, Broad Homes also launched products on the to-C end in the second half of 2021.The three products from the to-C business are highly standardized and fully assembled buildings, including PC high-rise buildings, B-Homes(fully assembled, low-rise/multi-story buildings), and BOX modules.These products are characterized by their short construction period. It is reported that the multi-story, fully-assembled B-Homes' main body can be completed in 8 days and delivered with fine decoration within 100 days. This breakthrough in quality and efficiency truly allows the productization of buildings. Broad Homes noted that the Company has accumulated years of experience through their B-Home business and will bring positive synergy to the new BOX Module product. The amount of new contracts from BOX Module shows that the product is already gaining market traction with the price of fully-prefabricated buildings being lower than cast-in-place buildings. With many projects in the pipeline, the Company will continue to explore innovate application areas for prefabricated buildings. Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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HDB to launch up to 23,000 BTO flats a year over next two years

SINGAPORE - Up to 23,000 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats will be launched each year in 2022 and 2023 to meet the strong demand for public housing, said the Housing Board on Thursday (Dec 16). This represents a 35 per cent increase every year in the number of flats available, from the 17,000 flats launched this year, said HDB. Next year, home buyers can tap BTO flats across mature and non-mature towns such as Bukit Merah, Jurong West, Kallang Whampoa, Queenstown, Tengah, Toa Payoh and Yishun. National Development Minister Desmond Lee said at a press conference that HDB will be prepared to launch up to 100,000 flats from 2021 to 2025, and will calibrate supply based on prevailing demand. Mr Lee noted that BTO application rates have increased from 3.7 applications per BTO flat in 2019 to 5.5 in 2021, despite more flats being offered by the HDB. HDB launched around 14,600 units in 2019 and around 17,000 units a year in 2020 and 2021. The strong demand was driven by newly married couples and a growing trend of people choosing to live in smaller households, added Mr Lee. HDB said that a buoyant resale market amid the Covid-19 pandemic also channelled more demand to the BTO market. HDB added: "The increased supply of flats will provide more housing options for young couples planning to start their marriage and parenthood journey, as well as for second-timer families, multi-generation families, the elderly, and singles." Mr Lee said that supply of private housing though the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme will also be increased. For the first half of 2022, there will be around 2,800 units on the Confirmed List, a 40 per cent increase from the previous GLS programme in the second half of 2021. Another 3,700 units are on the Reserve List for the first half of 2022. Mr Lee said the Government is prepared to step up supply even further if demand remains strong. The increased supply in public and private housing comes on the back of a new set of cooling measures announced on Wednesday aimed at promoting a stable and sustainable housing market, given the increasing risk of property prices running ahead of market fundamentals and impacting housing affordability. From Thursday, additional buyer's stamp duty that must be paid for purchases of additional properties will be raised. The total debt servicing ratio for borrowers will also be tightened, while Housing Board loans will be lowered from 90 per cent to 85 per cent of a property's purchase price.

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Sustainable, People-centered Solutions for Affordable Housing to Take Center Stage at Eighth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum

BANGKOK, Nov 25, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum taking place from December 7 to 9 highlights the urgent need to build sustainable, inclusive, and affordable housing, in a region where millions of people live in extreme poverty below the threshold of US$1.90 a day and where communities continue to grapple with the health and economic impact of COVID-19. Even before the pandemic, there were 1.6 billion people in need of adequate shelter. The global health crisis has put a spotlight on the critical importance of having a home to stay safe and healthy. However, it remains that vulnerable populations, those unable to cope amid the pandemic, are the ones most impacted by the economic shocks, the threat of natural and manmade disasters, and the negative effects of climate change."The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum's main theme of 'building forward better through inclusive housing' means that each one of us, especially the most vulnerable families we serve through housing solutions, has a voice in the process and a role to play in increasing access to a decent place to live," said Luis Noda, Habitat for Humanity's Asia-Pacific vice president. "We must center our actions on the needs of the people to truly build in a greener, safer, more resilient way."The virtual conference will be attended by various stakeholders and actors across the housing ecosystem and serves as a platform for the exchange and sharing of, experiences, technologies, innovations, and solutions. The forum's four tracks are Build resilient cities and communities; Innovative housing solutions and technologies; Advance sustainability in the housing sector; and Finance affordable housing. Economic growth, and climate change adaptation remain cross-cutting themes through the tracks.The resilient cities and communities track looks at how governments and sectoral stakeholders can work together towards a more sustainable urban future. The track on innovative housing solutions and technologies explores the various ways we can achieve affordable housing through innovation and technology. The track on sustainability in the housing sector looks at the different approaches to advance and harmonize the environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions of housing to ensure equitable cities and communities. The last track --finance affordable housing -- will focus on the financing instruments of different actors in both public and private sectors that fund affordable housing. Recently, Habitat for Humanity released a report titled "A Ladder Up: The construction sector's role in creating jobs and rebuilding emerging market economies" authored by economists at the Universities of Pennsylvania, Southern California, and Washington. The report states that every $1 million in construction output creates an average of 97 jobs across the countries studied, with 165 jobs per $1 million in the Philippines, and 182 jobs per $1 million in India. These findings are relevant for low- and middle-income countries deciding on areas to prioritize as they work to build back economies weakened by the pandemic.Thailand, being a fast emerging economy, investing in residential construction may represent a potential win because of possible large number of jobs it can create locally. From 2018 to 2019, the poverty rate in Thailand dropped to 6.2%, according to the World Bank. However, in 2020, the poverty rate increased to 8.8% due to the impact of COVID-19. The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is organized by Habitat for Humanity, in collaboration with the European Union-funded SWITCH-Asia Sustainable Consumption and Production Facility. Register for the virtual Asia-Pacific Housing Forum from December 7 to 9 at aphousingforum.org/registration/. About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in U.S.A. Since its founding in 1976, the housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.About EU SWITCH-Asia ProgrammeLaunched in 2007, the SWITCH-Asia programme is the largest European Union-funded programme promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) supporting 24 countries in Asia and Central Asia. The programme has funded around 130 projects, supporting over 500 Asian and European non-for-profit partners, about 100 private sector associations and 80.000 Asian MSMEs. The SCP Facility, one of SWITCH-Asia Components, aims at strengthening the implementation of SCP policies at the national level, facilitating the coordination of all components of the programme through information sharing. In addition, it carries out analyses on the results of the pilot projects and supports dialogue with stakeholders.Media contact:Maetavarin Maneekulpan+66-2260-5820mae@tqpr.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Strong demand likely for future HDB flats in Mount Pleasant area, say analysts

SINGAPORE - Future Housing Board flats in the Mount Pleasant housing estate are likely to see strong demand because of their central location, proximity to an MRT station and existing amenities in surrounding towns, say property analysts. As a result of their accessibility, these flats are expected to command prices reflective of mature estates, in particular those surrounding Mount Pleasant, analysts told The Straits Times. On Tuesday (Nov 23), National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced that some 5,000 HDB flats will be built on the Old Police Academy site, with the first Build-To-Order (BTO) project there to be launched within the next five years. There are currently no plans for private housing on the site. The 33ha estate, about one-third the size of Bidadari, is bounded by Thomson Road and the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE). It is located close to the mature town of Toa Payoh. Residents at the upcoming estate will be served by the Mount Pleasant MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line, which will open in tandem with the completion of the BTO projects. Ms Christine Sun, senior vice-president of research and analytics at OrangeTee & Tie, said prices there may be similar to those for BTO launches in Toa Payoh or Bidadari. A five-room BTO flat in Bidadari, launched in February this year, had a starting price of $611,000, while a four-room flat opened at $464,000. Last February, prices for a four-room BTO flat in Toa Payoh started at about $400,000 and went up to $666,000. Huttons Asia senior research director Lee Sze Teck also estimated that a five-room flat in Mount Pleasant would be in the $600,000 range, although he noted that the later the flats are launched, the more the prices would creep up. The authorities, however, have not indicated if five-room flats would be built, saying only that the housing estate is still in the conceptual stage and details have yet to be firmed up. Five-room HDB flats are typically not offered at BTO projects in mature estates such as Toa Payoh, Bishan and Queenstown. Since 2015, Bidadari has been the only centrally located mature housing estate where five-room units have been launched for sale. The Alkaff Courtview estate in Bidadari. Since 2015, Bidadari has been the only centrally located mature housing estate where five-room BTO flats have been launched for sale.. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG HDB has previously cited the lack of land as one of the reasons for the limited supply of five-room BTO flats in mature areas. When asked if flats in the Mount Pleasant estate would fall under the new prime location public housing (PLH) model, which imposes stricter ownership conditions, HDB said it would assess the site attributes and announce more details when they are ready. More on this topic   Related Story Around 5,000 HDB flats to be built in Mount Pleasant; first BTO project for sale within next 5 years   Related Story Planned road alignment for Mt Pleasant housing estate changed following environmental study Mr Nicholas Mak, ERA Realty's head of research and consultancy, said it is unlikely that the Mount Pleasant public housing estate will be considered a truly prime location. "It's accessible to the city but it's not really near the city, which is the Government's criteria for a prime area. If you compare a BTO site in Mount Pleasant to a BTO site in nearby Toa Payoh, I would say that Toa Payoh is more attractive but yet Toa Payoh is not considered prime," said Mr Mak. The authorities have said that Toa Payoh and Bishan would not come under the PLH model. Besides the site of the new housing estate, the majority of the land around Mount Pleasant is also zoned for residential use in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Master Plan, including a stretch along Thomson Road where a number of plant nurseries are located. Singapore to get new HDB housing estate at Mount Pleasant | THE BIG STORY Mr Mak said the upcoming Mount Pleasant housing estate could help rejuvenate the nearby Toa Payoh town with its amenities, or potentially even provide Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers) replacement flats for such projects in Toa Payoh, although they would be a little farther away than what residents offered Sers flats might want. He added that it is significant to announce a new estate in a central area that is reserved solely for public housing as it fulfils aspirations to afford housing in a well-connected mature area. Said Mr Mak: "Usually new towns are located far away from the city centre, such as Punggol and Tengah. So it's quite rare to have a new estate in such a central location, although it is a lot smaller in land size." More on this topic   Related Story Six buildings in and around Old Police Academy to be proposed for conservation   Related Story Mount Pleasant, Marina South MRT stations to open in tandem with housing developments

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Subsidy clawback, 10-year MOP for new prime location HDB flats to keep them affordable

SINGAPORE - Future Housing Board (HDB) flats built in prime, central locations will be subjected to a 10-year minimum occupation period (MOP) and additional subsidies will be clawed back by the Government upon their resale. These are among the key measures under a new prime location public housing (PLH) model, aimed at keeping prime HDB flats affordable and inclusive, announced by National Development Minister Desmond Lee on Tuesday (Oct 26). The first Build-to-Order (BTO) project under this model will be located in Rochor and launched next month.  The pool of resale buyers of these prime HDB flats will also be limited to households who earn not more than $14,000 a month and at least one applicant must be a Singapore citizen. Under the PLH model, fewer flats may be set aside under HDB's Married Child Priority Scheme, which gives priority to applicants whose parents or children live in the same area. Currently, up to 30 per cent of new flats are set aside under this scheme for families buying a flat for the first time. At a media briefing on Tuesday, Mr Lee said the new model is to keep public housing in prime locations affordable, accessible and inclusive for Singaporeans, both at the initial purchase and at subsequent resales on the open market. The PLH model will apply only to future public housing in prime locations and not to existing flat owners. There will be at least one prime location public housing project launched each year, but the exact proportions will differ year on year, as it depends on site availability and the overall supply of flats across all towns, said Mr Lee.  In order for HDB to launch these prime flats at affordable prices at the BTO stage, it has to provide additional subsidies on top of the those provided for all BTO flats, said Mr Lee. All subsidies are factored into flat prices when they are launched as BTO flats. "But the concern is whether this would lead to the lottery effect, excessive windfall gains and whether it would be fair to BTO buyers in other parts of Singapore, who would not get these additional subsidies," he said. A record number of HDB flats have changed hands for at least $1 million this year. In the first nine months of this year, there were 174 million-dollar HDB flats, compared with 82 for the whole of last year, which raised eyebrows and set off concerns about home affordability. They came on the back of a buoyant HDB resale market, in which resale flat prices also hit a record high in the third quarter of this year. To address these concerns, the Government will claw back additional subsidies provided to PLH flats. Flat owners will pay a percentage of the resale price to HDB when they resell their home on the open market for the first time, he said. This will apply only to those who bought the flat from HDB and not to subsequent resale transactions. More on this topic   Related Story What is HDB's prime location public housing model? Will The Pinnacle@Duxton be affected?   Related Story First BTO project in Rochor under new prime housing model to launch in November The exact percentage will be announced at the launch of the Rochor BTO project next month, which is the first site under the PLH model, and may be adjusted for other projects in the future, he said. Other prime locations for public housing include the future Greater Southern Waterfront. However, buyers who want one of these flats on the resale market will have to meet the prevailing eligibility conditions for buying a flat directly from the HDB . These include having at least one applicant who is a Singapore citizen, meeting the household income ceiling of $14,000 and not holding a private property or sold any in the last 30 months. Singles above 35 years old will not be allowed to buy these PLH flats. This is in contrast to current rules that do not place limitations on singles above the age of 35 buying resale flats. "Without such restrictions, the resale prices of these homes in prime locations may rise beyond the reach of many Singaporeans over time," said Mr Lee. The first BTO project under the PLH model will be located in Rochor and launched in November. PHOTO: HDB More on this topic   Related Story Million-dollar HDB flats in S’pore: Where are all 389 units located?   Related Story Greater Southern Waterfront and key projects that have shaped S'pore These conditions on the resale pool will also act as safeguards to prevent sellers from adding the subsidy recovery to their asking price in the hopes of trying to maximise gains, he added. “Buyers will be a circumscribed group of people who meet BTO eligibility requirements, so that means not anyone can buy. And buyers will also have to bear in mind the impositions on subsequent resale on him or her,” he said. “So that will ensure that the moderated market for the prime location public housing flats is functional.” To ensure buyers are genuinely buying the flat to live in, instead of hoping to flip it for a windfall, the MOP for prime location HDB flats will be extended to 10 years, up from the current five. Owners will also not be allowed to rent out their whole flat at any point in time, even after the MOP is over. These conditions will apply to all flat owners who purchase BTO and resale flats under the PLH model. The resale restrictions will be in place for at least half of the 99-year lease of each prime location HDB flat before the Government considers whether to review them, Mr Lee said.  "These policies will help to strengthen the owner-occupation intent of public housing and also seek to deter speculative demand and moderate resale prices," he added. However, HDB housing grants will still be available for eligible buyers and the prevailing ethnic quota under HDB's Ethnic Integration Policy will apply. When asked what constitutes a prime location, Mr Lee said it refers to the city centre in central Singapore and the future Greater Southern Waterfront. Some of the HDB towns and estates immediately surrounding the city centre may qualify, depending on the attributes of the sites within those areas, he said. "I think let’s keep it tight for now to these central prime locations. Because there are constraints on the buyers of these homes and we have a clear social objective to achieve by injecting these flats in areas which, under today’s context, would normally be for private housing."  Public rental flats will also be included at these sites where feasible, said Mr Lee. He added that the new PLH model, which comes after almost a year of public consultations, strives to balance the many considerations and trade-offs, while fulfilling the key social objectives of public housing. "As with all our policies, the new PLH model is not cast in stone. It is very new and we will continue to review the parameters over time, based on our experience from the projects that are launched along the way," he said.

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First BTO project in Rochor under new prime housing model to launch in November

SINGAPORE - The first project under a new model for public housing in prime locations will be built in Rochor, and launch at the next Build-to-Order (BTO) exercise in November. The project will have a mix of 960 3-room and 4-room flats, and also include 40 2-room rental flats, as part of efforts to make living in prime areas accessible to all. It will be located on two plots of land along Weld Road and Kelantan Road next to Jalan Besar MRT station, said the National Development Ministry and Housing Board in a joint statement on Wednesday (Oct 27). An open-air car park next to Sim Lim Tower used to occupy one plot, while the other was vacated by the Sungei Road flea market in July 2017. Besides an MRT station at their doorstep, future residents will also be within walking distance of Berseh Food Centre and Stamford Primary School. At a media briefing on Tuesday (Oct 26), National Development Minister Desmond Lee said more HDB flats will be rolled out progressively after the Rochor project, in prime areas within and surrounding the city centre. Moving forward, HDB will launch at least one prime location housing project per year, he said, adding that the proportion of new prime location flats to flats in other areas will differ year on year to ensure a diverse supply across areas. Under a new model for public housing in prime locations, flats may only be sold after 10 years' minimum occupancy, to buyers with a combined salary not exceeding $14,000. To further curb the "lottery effect" - where BTO unit owners resell their prime location flats for an excessive windfall - HDB will also recover the higher subsidies for such flats by taking a cut of the resale proceeds. More details will be announced in November. Higher subsidies will be provided for BTO flats in prime locations compared with typical BTO units, to keep prices affordable. In comparison, BTO projects in other areas have a minimum occupancy period of five years and no salary cap for resale buyers. The prime location housing model, which applies only to future projects, will be implemented for BTO projects in central areas like the upcoming Greater Southern Waterfront. About 9,000 housing units - both public and private - will be built on the site of Keppel Golf Club, whose lease expires in December this year. Mr Lee said: "If you leave everything to the forces of the private market, these attractive locations would likely become very expensive and exclusive locations, with housing that only the well-to-do can afford." This has happened in many cities around the world, he noted, adding: "We are determined not to let this happen in Singapore. We want to keep our city inclusive." HDB will launch a new housing project in November 2021 as part of a BTO exercise in the Rochor area. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN The new model comes on the back of a 11 month-long public engagement, where more than 7,500 Singaporeans gave their views on the issue. The 960 units in Rochor will be among 4,400 BTO flats to be launched in November, with others in areas such as Choa Chu Kang, Hougang, Jurong West, Kallang/Whampoa and Tengah. Another 2,000 to 3,000 BTO flats in Geylang, Tengah and Yishun will be launched in February next year. More on this topic   Related Story Subsidy clawback, 10-year MOP for new prime location HDB flats   Related Story What is HDB's prime location public housing model? Will The Pinnacle@Duxton be affected?

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Habitat for Humanity’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter Leads Transformational Investment to Increase Affordable Housing in India

Delhi, India, Oct 22, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - As the 3D printed construction market grows, startups and nonprofits alike are beginning to leverage advances in concrete 3D printing technology to address the affordable housing crisis. Recently, Habitat for Humanity International through its Shelter Venture Fund invested $411,000 in Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions Ltd. to increase production of affordable 3D printed homes in India. Hestia Partners and Capnetic Investments joined Habitat in investing in the construction technology startup. Habitat's investment in Tvasta builds on a multi-year collaboration, beginning when the company was one of seven startups to participate in Habitat's ShelterTech India accelerator program in 2018. ShelterTech accelerators bridge the gap between housing innovation and real-world impact. 3D printed construction technology offers the potential for faster, more cost-efficient and resilient housing in high-income countries as well as emerging markets. Construction of Tvasta's first 3D printed home, completed in late-2020, generated less waste and was completed faster than traditional methods. "The pandemic has only exacerbated the affordable housing crisis, with rising demand as well as material costs. Through the Shelter Venture Fund, Habitat is helping ensure that the most promising, disruptive technologies achieve scale, expanding affordable housing markets to reach more low-income families in need of reliable housing," said Patrick Kelley, vice president of Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter.According to UN-Habitat, an estimated 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing today, with global demand for affordable housing growing by 4000 units every hour. In order to reach more low-income households, Tvasta is working with the Government of India through its "Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana" (Housing for All) initiative, which aims to build 20 million urban and rural homes for low-income families by 2022. Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter launched the Shelter Venture Fund in 2017 to invest in shelter entrepreneurs operating in the pioneer gap - where early-stage companies are often considered too new or too risky for conventional venture capital firms. The intent is to accelerate those entrepreneurs' pathways to reaching low-income families with products and services that improve their housing conditions. To date, the Shelter Venture Fund has invested a total of $3 million in 11 startups with disruptive and innovative products and services.To set up interviews, receive photos or for further information, contact Michele Soh msoh@habitat.org, +6 9233 1544. Link to the web version - habitat.org/ap/about/newsroomAbout Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity found its earliest inspirations as a grassroots movement on an interracial community farm in U.S.A. Since its founding in 1976, the housing organization has grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.About Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in ShelterThe Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, a unit of Habitat for Humanity International, works with housing market actors to expand innovative and client-responsive services, products and financing so that households can improve their shelter more effectively and efficiently. The goal of the Terwilliger Center is to make housing markets work more effectively for people in need of decent, affordable shelter, thereby improving the quality of life for low-income households. To learn more, visit habitat.org/tcis. Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Habitat for Humanity: Innovation Awards at the Virtual Asia-Pacific Housing Forum to Promote Winning Sustainable Solutions for Affordable Housing

BANGKOK, Sep 3, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum's Innovation Awards recognize and celebrate innovators and disruptors in the affordable housing sector. Startup and scaleup companies, policymakers and advocates, architects and engineers are invited to submit sustainable and practical solutions for affordable housing. Paulette Liu"The Asia-Pacific region faces complex housing challenges, compounded by rapid urbanization, natural and human-made disasters, the negative effects of climate change, and persistent poverty and inequality," said Luis Noda, Asia-Pacific vice president of Habitat for Humanity. "We need everyone working together and every possible creative solution that is locally adapted to address the housing deficit.""The recognition allowed us to expand our circle of influence, created more awareness about our advocacy in the community and open more opportunities to help others," said Paulette Liu, president of SKILLS and a 2019 Innovation Awards winner. The Innovation Awards (visit aphousingforum.org/innovation-awards) underscores the importance of strategic collaboration, specifically by multiple sector partnerships that foster innovations. The Awards are organized by Habitat for Humanity in collaboration with the Hilti Foundation, Whirlpool and the European Union-funded SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility. There are three award categories: ShelterTech, Public Policies, and Inspirational Practices. The ShelterTech category seeks technology innovations (product & services) led by the private sector; while the Policies category promotes innovative public policies across all government levels to help reduce the housing deficit while taking into consideration specific needs of minorities, vulnerable and marginalized populations. The third category recognizes practices from public or public-private partnerships that contribute to improved communities and settlements and increased access to affordable housing for the most disadvantaged segments of society.A special Sustainability Award, sponsored by the SWITCH-Asia SCP Facility, will be given to the innovator who will score highest in showcasing scalable solutions for sustainable housing, regardless of the category. The EU and its SWITCH-Asia Programme recognize the critical importance of the housing sector to sustainable consumption and production, and promote sustainable housing and buildings as part of their support for green, circular economies in its 24 target countries in Asia. "For Asian countries to achieve more sustainable consumption and production in the housing and building sector, it is vital that we heed diverse experiences and adapt these to local realities. The SCP Award will showcase one solution that is particularly inspiring, and we are looking forward to supporting its winner in connecting with EU SWITCH-Asia stakeholders," said Zaida Fadeeva, Team Leader of the SCP Facility. The top 12 finalists will get to present their ideas in front of a jury panel and the public during the virtual Innovation Awards Grand Premiere on December 1. Winners will be announced on December 8, 2021 during the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum. Each winner will receive a trophy and a US$ 5,000 cash prize. Deadline for submission is September 12, 2021.The Forum, with the theme "Building forward better for inclusive housing," includes program tracks on resilient cities and communities, innovative housing solutions and technologies, sustainability in the housing sector, and financing affordable housing. It includes a training course on land tenure and markets and a youth congress that will highlight the need for decent, affordable housing and the ways in which the youth can contribute to addressing the housing challenge. Register for complimentary access to the fully virtual Asia-Pacific Housing Forum at aphousingforum.org. About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort and has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacificAbout EU SWITCH-Asia ProgrammeLaunched in 2007, the SWITCH-Asia programme is the largest European Union-funded programme promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) supporting 24 countries in Asia and Central Asia. The programme has funded around 130 projects, supporting over 500 Asian and European non-for-profit partners, about 100 private sector associations and 80.000 Asian MSMEs. The SCP Facility, one of SWITCH-Asia Components, aims at strengthening the implementation of SCP policies at the national level, facilitating the coordination of all components of the programme through information sharing. In addition, it carries out analyses on the results of the pilot projects and supports dialogue with stakeholders.The EU and its SWITCH-Asia programme have recognised the critical importance of the housing sector to sustainable consumption and production or SCP, and the construction, housing and buildings cluster is a major pillar of EU policy and SWITCH-Asia activities. It is highlighted as part of the green transition in the flagship EU Green Deal (2019) and the Circular Economy Action Plan (2020). To stimulate further green innovations, the EU has also put forward legislation including its Construction Products Regulation. As the housing and building stock in Europe is not expected to grow as dynamically as in Asia, one of the focus areas for the EU is the renovation of existing buildings for increased energy efficiency, through its "Renovation Wave" strategy (2020), which prioritises social housing. In the SWITCH-Asia programme, several national assignments focus on implementing SCP principles in the buildings sector, including in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan. Media contact:Maetavarin Maneekulpan+66-2260-5820mae@tqpr.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Habitat for Humanity to hold Asia-Pacific Housing Forum in Thailand for the third time

BANGKOK, Aug 5, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Habitat for Humanity announced that the eighth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum with the theme, "Building forward better for inclusive housing", will be held in Bangkok from December 7 to 9. This will be the third time that the affordable housing forum will be held in Thailand. The strategic location of the country, presence of a strong and vibrant international development community in Bangkok, and Habitat for Humanity's 23-year history of building homes in Thailand, were the key considerations for the choice of venue for the biennial event."The focus for this year's Asia-Pacific Housing Forum centers on how affordable and sustainable housing solutions can bring an inclusive future for vulnerable and low-income families through greener, safer, and more resilient approaches," said Luis Noda, area vice president of Habitat for Humanity in the Asia-Pacific region.Globally, the health and economic impacts of the ongoing pandemic have exacerbated the housing crisis and made clear how crucial having safe, secure, and adequate housing is to one's health, wellbeing, and even survival. Around the world, approximately 1.6 billion people live without adequate shelter. In the Asia-Pacific region, an estimated one-third of urban dwellers live in slums or slum-like conditions. In Thailand, for instance, the slum and squatter population has continued to increase, with a majority of them in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. The nation's urban population is approximately 35.29 million in 2019 (Statista.com). From 2018 to 2019, the poverty rate dropped to 6.2%, according to the World Bank. However, in 2020, the poverty rate increased to 8.8% due to the effects brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the main speakers of the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum include Maimunah Mohd Sharif, executive director of United Nations Human Settlements Programme, and Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity International. Co-organized by Habitat for Humanity and the EU-funded SWITCH-Asia programme, with the support of other partners, the Forum brings together industry leaders, innovators, policy experts, and various stakeholders to inspire a new vision for more inclusive, healthy, and resilient cities and communities. It serves as a multi-sectoral platform to build collaboration among like-minded organization to create impact at scale for low-cost, affordable technologies across the Asia-Pacific region. The importance of housing as a driver of economic growth and sustainability in human settlements will be one of the central discussions during the Forum. It also aims to strengthen the regional community's commitment to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and align climate change initiatives with national priorities. The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum, which has been attended by more than 7,200 participants since its inaugural conference in 2007, is supported by The Hilti Foundation, Whirlpool, Agence Francaise de Developpement, and Somfy Foundation. Other partners include UN-Habitat, Cities Alliance, and Total Quality PR. The Forum will adopt a hybrid format, with limited in-person participation in accordance with government-mandated health and safety guidelines. However, with the fluid situation brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers are continuously monitoring the situation with a pivot strategy in place for an enhanced fully virtual experience. Register at aphousingforum.org and find out more about the forum program, tracks and side events. About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort and has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacificAbout EU SWITCH-Asia programmeLaunched in 2007, the SWITCH-Asia programme is the largest European Union-funded programme promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) supporting 24 countries in Asia and Central Asia. The programme has funded around 130 projects, supporting over 500 Asian and European non-for-profit partners, about 100 private sector associations and 80.000 Asian MSMEs. The SCP Facility, one of SWITCH-Asia Components, aims at strengthening the implementation of SCP policies at the national level, facilitating the coordination of all components of the programme through information sharing. In addition, it carries out analyses on the results of the pilot projects and supports dialogue with stakeholders.Media contact:Maetavarin Maneekulpan+66-2260-5820mae@tqpr.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Dover Forest to be used for both housing and nature; first housing project to be launched in 2022

SINGAPORE - The plan for Dover Forest has been revised, with public housing expected to be launched in the eastern half next year while the western half is set aside for now to preserve its biodiversity. The young secondary forest plot in western Singapore is zoned for residential use, but the plans were tweaked after scientific studies and nature enthusiasts flagged its conservation value. To balance the country's needs for both housing and nature, only the eastern half of the 33ha site - almost eight times the size of the Padang - will be developed in the nearer term. The plan is to develop about 11ha of land in the eastern half for public housing projects. The first of the flats there are expected to be launched in the second half of next year, said the Housing Board on Friday (July 30). The development of the area, which is located in the mature estate of Queenstown, will be done sensitively and also feature 5ha of greenery - including a park with a natural stream. The western half of the site will be set aside for now and relooked at in about a decade, HDB added. But parts of this segment, which is richer in biodiversity than the eastern half, will be carved out and safeguarded as a nature park. Minister for National Development Desmond Lee said on Wednesday during a media conference: "HDB had originally intended to launch the entire parcel, known (also) as Ulu Pandan vegetated area or Ulu Pandan Forest, for public housing to meet pressing needs for public housing in the near term. But we have decided to review it and refine it." This decision was made after feedback from members of the public and the findings of two separate scientific studies. The first study, commissioned by HDB to inventory the wildlife on the site, had found that the western part of it was richer in biodiversity, comprising more large trees and threatened species. The second study by the National Parks Board, in consultation with experts, modelled how the Dover plot connects with other forests in Singapore. This exercise had shown that the site was an important stepping stone for wildlife moving in from the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve north of the site, as well as from the vegetation in the Southern Ridges further down. These factors informed plans for the site. While other development projects have incorporated green features before, these elements are usually included on an individual-project basis. This is the first time vegetation on a site is being safeguarded via a broader landscape approach, in a way that will allow the plot to serve as a stepping stone for wildlife moving from other forests. More on this topic   Related Story Dover Forest plan revision a benchmark for future major projects   Related Story NParks identifies new nature corridor for wildlife in Clementi area Mr Lee said: "Top of our minds was our role as responsible stewards of our land and natural environment, to meet the needs of current Singaporeans as well as future generations, while ensuring that we safeguard resources for (the future)." Dover Forest is bound by Commonwealth Avenue West, Ghim Moh Link, Ulu Pandan Canal and Clementi Road. Public housing development plans for the site were released last December, with Mr Lee saying on Facebook then that Build-To-Order flats to be launched this year would be in the area. Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Professor of Conservation Koh Lian Pin said: "Of course I would have liked to see the entire Dover Forest conserved. But when there are competing uses of the land from housing needs, for example... the (scientific exercise) is critical for providing the scientific basis to triage which half of the forest to protect." More on this topic   Related Story Plans for Dover Forest revised: Events leading to the change   Related Story Housing project in Dover Forest to meet demand for homes in the area

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Plans for Dover Forest revised: Events leading to the change

SINGAPORE - The Housing Board on Friday (July 30) announced that it has revised plans for Dover Forest, with the eastern half to be developed for housing, and development plans for the western half put on hold. A sizeable portion of the western half - which has richer biodiversity than the east sector - will be set aside as a nature park. Here is a history of the site, as well as a summary of the board's latest plans for the area. Timeline of events 2003 Site zoned as "Residential (Subject to Detailed Planning)" in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's master plan. 2020 Dec 20: HDB publishes a 155-page report following an environmental baseline study of Dover Forest. It welcomes public feedback on the findings. Dec 21: National Development Minister Desmond Lee says Build-To-Order flats will be launched in the Ulu Pandan estate. 2021 Jan 15: The Nature Society (Singapore) publishes a 13-page proposal to HDB, arguing for the forest to be designated a "public-cum-nature park". Jan 16: The public feedback period closes. Jan 28: Mr Lee says all feedback on the future of Dover Forest will be studied closely. Feb 1: Mr Lee announces a four-week extension to the public feedback period, till March 1. Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher de Souza, who oversees the Ulu Pandan ward, proposes to Parliament alternative plots of land around the Ghim Moh neighbourhood for housing development. July 30: HDB says development plans for the 33ha site will balance nature conservation and housing needs, with the western part of Dover Forest to become a nature park, and the eastern half largely used for residential developments. The plans account for findings from the environmental baseline study and about 1,800 responses received during the two feedback periods. More on this topic   Related Story Dover Forest to be used for both housing and nature; first housing project to be launched in 2022   Related Story Dover Forest plan revision a benchmark for future major projects History of Dover Forest site 1800s to 1900s • Most of the earliest settlers in the area during this period are Malays who live on the banks of Sungei Ulu Pandan and fish along the river for a living. • They are later joined by Chinese settlers who grow rubber trees, durians, rambutans and other trees. • Part of today's forest was within the estate of Tan Kim Seng, a prominent trader. A stone marker discovered in the western half of the forest is believed to have marked the boundary of his estate. 1920s to 1940s • Dover Forest becomes part of a rubber plantation. It is believed that the plantation was abandoned during World War II and not re-established after the war. 1950s • Sundry tree cultivation replaces rubber plantations, and some low-density settlements are established. 1970s • Sungei Ulu Pandan is concretised and widened to cope with rapid development and to alleviate a severe flooding problem. The former river is also known as Ulu Pandan Canal today. 1978 • Singapore Polytechnic moves to Dover, just south of the Dover Forest. 1980 • Forest site is zoned a "Comprehensive Development Area" in the master plan. 2003 • Site zoned as "Residential (Subject To Detailed Planning)" in Urban Redevelopment Authority's master plan. 2011 • A public housing estate, Ghim Moh Valley, is completed at the eastern end of the forest. 2012 • The School of Science and Technology is completed at the western end of the forest. 2017 • Another public housing project, Ghim Moh Edge, is completed in the forest's eastern end. More on this topic   Related Story NParks identifies new nature corridor for wildlife in Clementi area   Related Story Housing project in Dover Forest to meet demand for homes in the area What's next? • While the western half remains zoned for residential use, HDB said that development plans will be put off in the medium term and reviewed again around 2030. The review will take into account Singapore's land use needs at that time. • The first of the housing projects in the eastern sector of Dover Forest will be launched in the second half of 2022. • A natural stream in the eastern sector will be retained, with a 20m-wide buffer on both sides. • A commercial node will likely be developed next to Dover MRT station, offering residents amenities, shops and eateries. • Another vacant site nearby, next to Ulu Pandan Community Club, will be launched for public housing in 2022.

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Housing project in Dover Forest to meet demand for homes in the area

SINGAPORE - While the Housing Board has announced that it will put off development for the western half of the 33ha Dover Forest for now following a review of its plans, 11ha of the eastern half will be used for public housing, as well as commercial and recreational amenities. Developing the land will help meet strong demand for housing in mature estates, including from young families who want to live near their parents in the area, said HDB on Friday (July 30). The first of the housing projects in the eastern sector of Dover Forest will be launched in the second half of next year. HDB added that the last Build-To-Order (BTO) development in the area was launched in November 2012. Since then, it has received feedback from residents that their children wish to live in the area. "This is aligned to HDB's data showing that more married couples and elderly are preferring to stay near to their families for better mutual care and support," it said. In a statement last Sunday, HDB said the application rate for new units in mature towns and estates increased to 6.7 times in 2020 from 2.8 times in 2017, while the rate for units in non-mature estates and towns was 4.8 times in 2020, up from 2.1 times in 2017. The figures indicate a continued preference among flat buyers for flats in mature estates. HDB also said that mature estates like Queenstown - of which Ulu Pandan is a part - have also seen higher than average demand for unsold flats released in sales exercises over the past four years. The application rate for the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises in Queenstown was 6.4 times during that period, compared with the average of 5.4 across all mature estates. Clementi - which is right next to the Dover Forest site - also had an exceptionally high SBF application rate at 8.3 times. The high demand may also be due to the fewer BTO projects launched in these areas recently, said HDB. The coming launch at the Dover Forest site is good news for house-hunters. An administration executive, who wanted to be known only as Ms Goh, said she and her fiance have been looking since 2019 for a unit near Ghim Moh, where she grew up and her parents still live. "I'm familiar with the area and this is the community I grew up in. When my parents grow older it will also be easier to care for them, and if we have kids they can help with childcare, so living nearby will be very convenient," said Ms Goh, who is in her early 30s. She said she had not been successful in getting an unsold or new flat during sales exercises, while resale units in older blocks in Ghim Moh Road were less attractive because of the shorter time remaining on their leases. In announcing its plans, HDB said it took into account feedback submitted on an environmental baseline study it had conducted on the site. Among the 1,800 responses were calls for the site to be fully retained as a green space, while others suggested conserving ecologically significant portions of the site alongside housing developments. The design of housing blocks at the Ulu Pandan site will aim to allow as many units to have a canal view as possible. HDB also addressed alternative development sites put forward by nature groups, members of the public and Holland-Bukit Timah MP Christopher de Souza. Mr de Souza, who oversees the Ulu Pandan ward, told The Straits Times HDB has informed him the new developments in Ulu Pandan east would weave in greenery and enhance blue spaces to improve liveability and ecological connectivity. Of the five alternative sites that were suggested, two are in interim use by the Ministry of Education, while another two are earmarked to be part of the future Dover Knowledge District. More on this topic   Related Story Dover Forest plan revision a benchmark for future major projects   Related Story Plans for Dover Forest revised: Events leading to the change The last site, next to Ulu Pandan Community Club in Ghim Moh, will be part of a BTO exercise to be launched next year. Details of the number of types of flats available at this site and in the Dover Forest sector will be made available at a later date. The announcements for these two projects appear to have come ahead of the normal schedule for BTO announcements. Usually new projects are announced by HDB six months before their launch. Details of exact locations and the number of flats and their types are made three months before the launch. "Nonetheless, there has been public interest on why vacant brownfield sites in the vicinity of the vegetated site at Ulu Pandan was not considered for BTO housing," it noted. These sites included the vacant Ghim Moh site next to the community club. "Given the public interest, we have therefore decided to make known the housing plans for this site," said HDB. "This is to assure the public that in meeting the housing demand, depending on the timing and quantity of projected housing supply required in a particular year, we do look first at available brownfield sites within the vicinity for development." More on this topic   Related Story Dover Forest to be used for both housing and nature; first housing project to be launched in 2022   Related Story NParks identifies new nature corridor for wildlife in Clementi area

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Habitat for Humanity’s ShelterTech accelerator ends with bold vision for affordable housing

MANILA, Jul 21, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - A Global Summit held on July 14 topped off Habitat for Humanity's ShelterTech accelerator in Southeast Asia, the 10 startups pitched their work and progress to date, while investors and ecosystem partners wrapped with a critical reflection on innovation in affordable housing markets today. Launched in 2017 with accelerator programs in Mexico, India and Kenya, ShelterTech has grown into a global platform connecting ideas, products and services in affordable housing, with a special focus on solutions that work in a COVID-19 context. ShelterTech aims to make affordable housing a top impact investment category.Ten SE Asian startups pitched their housing solutions following seven months of support and mentorship by leaders in the technology and impact investment sectors. Hosted by Villgro Philippines & Global Urban Village, 7/14/21. (Habitat.org)Patti Chu, Mana Impact Partners, moderated a plenary on housing and climate change with panelists Dr. Pablo Jorillo from BASE Bahay Foundation, Zahra Zanjani from CUBO Modular and Soe Win Zaw from Pounamu. (Habitat.org)Startups from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Singapore were selected for the program in late-2020. In addition to an initial catalytic grant of US$10,000, the ventures completed a seven-month acceleration process, which included learning laboratories, masterclasses on housing and business topics, dialogues with regional investors and one-on-one mentorship with experts from global corporations including Hilti, Dow and Autodesk.During the pitches, the startups recounted their growth journey since joining ShelterTech and their plans to bring affordable housing products and services to millions of low-income families in the region.CUBO Modular, which is based in the Philippines and manufactures modular homes out of bamboo, has sold out units of their award-winning homes for the remainder of the year. Sampangan's proprietary "magic box" turns waste into activated carbon which is used to create building materials. This Indonesian startup secured new contracts with the government and is now the largest startup in Indonesia to create more long-lasting products out of waste materials."ShelterTech works across sectors, industries and geographies to bring together the most impactful and cutting-edge innovations, to improve housing conditions for low-income families across the globe. We chose 10 startups in the Southeast Asia cohort because we believe they will make significant contributions to addressing the global housing deficit," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, at the opening of the Summit. Launched in Southeast Asia in July 2020, the accelerator attracted more than 100 ventures, vying for a chance to be part of the world's leading platform for affordable housing innovation.Reckford's message was echoed by Marco Meyrat, chairman of the Hilti Foundation board of directors, who said "ShelterTech puts housing entrepreneurs at the centre of a highly connected ecosystem, and collaborators who share a passion for revolutionary solutions in affordable housing. This is well-aligned with the Hilti Foundation's commitment to helping identify and catalyze innovative technologies for housing that lay the groundwork for a better future."Following the Global Summit on July 14, ShelterTech will continue to provide recognition and growth opportunities to startups, while developing its close-knit ecosystem of ventures and partners including national and regional accelerators, in fields including PropTech and smart cities, integrating affordable housing tracks into these programs. To date, ShelterTech has supported more than 60 startups and scaleups worldwide.ShelterTech is supported by a network of key partners, including Autodesk Foundation, Dow, the Hilti Foundation and the Keith V. Kiernan Foundation, while the Southeast Asian accelerator was run from Manila in partnership with Villgro Philippines and Global Urban Village.About ShelterTechShelterTech is a global innovation platform advancing entrepreneurial housing solutions that radically improve the lives of low-income families. Supported by Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter and its partners, ShelterTech puts entrepreneurs at the center of a highly connected ecosystem of mentors, investors, peers, alumni and technical experts who share a passion for revolutionary ideas in affordable housing. For more information and opportunities, visit www.habitat.org/sheltertech.About Terwilliger Center for Innovation in ShelterThe Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, a unit of Habitat for Humanity International, works with housing market actors to expand innovative and client-responsive services, products and financing, so that households can improve their shelter more effectively and efficiently. The goal of the Terwilliger Center is making housing markets work more effectively for people in need of decent, affordable shelter, thereby improving the quality of life for low-income households. To learn more, visit www.habitat.org/tcis.About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on an interracial community farm in the U.S.A., and has grown to become a leading global nonprofit, working across 70 countries. In Asia-Pacific since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit www.habitat.org/asiapacific.Notes to Editors:For interviews, photos or additional information, contact Rutuja Powle, +91 7718089122, rpowle@habitat.org or Michele Soh, +65 92331544, msoh@habitat.org. Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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Habitat for Humanity’s regional ShelterTech accelerator concludes with a bold vision for the affordable housing sector

MANILA, Jul 16, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - A Global Summit celebrated the conclusion of Habitat for Humanity's ShelterTech accelerator in Southeast Asia, where the ten startups presented their work and progress to date, followed reflection by investors and ecosystem partners on why innovation in affordable housing market is critical. First launched in 2017 with accelerator programs in Mexico, India and Kenya, ShelterTech has grown into a global platform to connect innovating ideas, products and services in affordable housing, with special focus on solutions that work in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. ShelterTech aims to make housing a top impact investment category. "ShelterTech works across sectors, industries and geographies to bring together the most impactful and cutting-edge innovations improving housing conditions for low-income families across the globe. We chose the ten startups in the Southeast Asia cohort because we believe they will make significant contributions to addressing the global housing deficit," said Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity, at the opening of the Summit. Launched in Southeast Asia in July 2020, the accelerator attracted more than 100 ventures, vying for a chance to be part of the world's leading platform for affordable housing innovation. Startups from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines and Singapore were selected for the program in late-2020. In addition to an initial catalytic grant of US$10,000, the ventures completed a seven-month acceleration process, which included learning laboratories, masterclasses on housing and business topics, dialogues with regional investors and one-on-one mentorship with seasoned experts from global corporations including Hilti, Dow and Autodesk. During the pitches, startups recounted their growth journey since joining ShelterTech and their plans to bring affordable housing products and services to millions of low-income families in the region. CUBO Modular, which is based in the Philippines and manufactures modular homes out of bamboo, has sold out all units of their award-winning homes for the remainder of the year. Sampangan's proprietary "magic box" turns waste into activated carbon, which is used to create building materials. The Indonesian startup recently secured new contracts with governments and the largest startup in Indonesia to create more long-lasting products out of waste materials. Following the Global Summit, ShelterTech will continue to provide recognition and growth opportunities to startups, while developing its close-knit ecosystem of ventures and partners. The platform will also partner with other national and regional accelerators, in fields such as PropTech and smart cities, to integrate an affordable housing track to their programs. A corresponding accelerator and Summit also took place in the Andean region of South America. In total, ShelterTech has supported over 60 startups and scaleups worldwide to date. In Southeast Asia, the accelerator was run in partnership with Villgro Philippines and Global Urban Village. About ShelterTechShelterTech is a global innovation platform advancing entrepreneurial housing solutions that radically improve the lives of low-income families. Supported by Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter and its partners, ShelterTech puts entrepreneurs at the center of a highly connected ecosystem of mentors, investors, peers, alumni and technical experts who share a passion for revolutionary ideas in affordable housing. For more information and opportunities, visit shelter-tech.org. About Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in ShelterThe Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, a unit of Habitat for Humanity International, works with housing market actors to expand innovative and client-responsive services, products and financing so that households can improve their shelter more effectively and efficiently. The goal of the Terwilliger Center is to make housing markets work more effectively for people in need of decent, affordable shelter, thereby improving the quality of life for low-income households. To learn more, visit habitat.org/tcis About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on an interracial community farm in the U.S.A. and has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacific.Notes to Editors:To set up interviews, receive photos or gain additional information, please contact Rutuja Powle, Tel: +91 7718089122, rpowle@habitat.org or Michele Soh, +65 92331544, msoh@habitat.org. Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

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540,000 CPF members to pay less for home protection insurance

SINGAPORE - More than 540,000 Housing Board (HDB) flat owners will, on average, pay 10 per cent less in premiums for a Central Provident Fund (CPF) home insurance scheme from July 1. The CPF Board on Thursday (June 24) said it is reducing premiums for the Home Protection Scheme (HPS) "due to better-than-expected investment returns and claims experience". The scheme protects CPF members and their families from the risk of losing their HDB flats in the event of death, terminal illness, or total permanent disability before their housing loans are paid up. Last year, $83.8 million was paid out in claims to home owners insured under HPS. The last time a reduction in premiums for the scheme was made was in 2018. Periodic reviews are conducted by the CPF Board to ensure that HPS premiums remain affordable, while maintaining the long-term sustainability of the HPS fund, said the CPF. The new rates will kick in for members who join the scheme on or after July 1, while existing members will pay the lower prices when they pay their annual premium or adjust their coverage on or after July 1. For example, a male member aged 36 with a $200,000 housing loan from HDB for 30 years will pay a reduced annual premium of $209.40 instead of $232.40 - equivalent to a 10 per cent reduction - when he joins the scheme from July 1 this year, said the CPF. "The reduction in insurance premiums will help with my family's housing finances in the long term - a penny saved is a penny earned," said Ms Peggy Lim, 34, a logistics executive who is a first-time flat owner. CPF members who are using CPF savings to pay for their housing loans have to be insured under HPS, said the CPF. Those not using their CPF savings to pay for their housing loans can also apply for the insurance. From next month, potential home buyers can use the HPS calculator on the CPF website to estimate their new premiums. For more information, visit the HPS website or contact CPF Board through the CPF website. More on this topic   Related Story More channelling more cash into CPF amid Covid-19 uncertainties   Related Story CPF interest rates to remain unchanged for third quarter of 2021

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194 families affected by construction delays requested for interim rental flats from HDB

SINGAPORE - More than 190 families whose flats are facing construction delays have requested for interim rental housing from the Housing Board, as some housing projects have been hampered by work delay as well as labour and supply shortages due to Covid-19. In response to queries from The Straits Times, the HDB said it had received 194 such requests from flat buyers affected by construction delays. Of these, 131 households are already living in their rental units and 39 households will be moving in or getting their units soon. The remaining 24 households withdrew their requests for the units. Among the 194 families who made the requests are 17 future home owners of a Build-To-Order (BTO) project in Punggol who are facing a one-year delay after the HDB terminated the services of the building contractor last August. The HDB said 14 of them are already living in their allocated rental units while the remaining three households will be getting their units soon. The affected housing project, called Waterway Sunrise II, has 1,014 units across seven blocks. The original estimated completion date was the first quarter of this year for Block 653A, and the second quarter of this year for the remaining six blocks. Home owners will now get keys to their flats only in the first or second quarter of next year. The building contractor, Lian Ho Lee Construction, was fired by the HDB for not being able to meet project milestones. The project has been handed over to a new building contractor, Expand Construction. "Construction works at Waterway Sunrise II are making steady progress, and there are no further changes to the project completion timeline," the HDB told ST. Flat buyers will be kept updated on the revised completion date through My HDBPage as construction progresses. The HDB previously said that some BTO projects would be delayed by about six to nine months beyond their estimated completion dates due to Covid-19, although it would strive to reduce the delay where possible. Flat buyers who are unable to find alternative accommodation with relatives or from the open market, while waiting for their flats to be completed, may apply for interim rental housing from the HDB via its website. Under the scheme, the average monthly rent for a one-room and two-room flat is about $300 and $400 respectively, depending on flat location, said the HDB. More on this topic   Related Story BTO flat buyers in Punggol face one-year delay after HDB terminates building contractor's services   Related Story 89 BTO projects have resumed works; only 1 site pending approval: HDB A check on the HDB website showed that two-room flats are available in Sumang Lane in Punggol and Canberra Street in Sembawang. Three-room and four-room flats are available under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS), which is another HDB scheme that provides families with interim rental housing. A future home owner at Waterway Sunrise II, who wanted to be known only as Ms Tay, is among those who have successfully applied for a two-room interim rental flat. "As newlyweds, we prefer to have our own space and privacy. Because we managed to get this rental flat, we can still stick to the plan of having a kid this year," said the 30-year-old, who works in retail. Ms Tay has bought a washing machine, fridge and bed that will also be used at her new BTO flat when it is ready next year. "We were able to choose between a few locations and we picked Punggol so that we can get used to living in this neighbourhood before we move into our BTO flat next year," she said. More on this topic   Related Story HDB to launch 17,000 BTO flats in 2021, including in Bidadari, Queenstown and Geylang

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HDB launches flat portal; includes new flat listings, financial calculators and loans information

SINGAPORE - Those hunting for a new home can now get pricing and loan information of Housing Board (HDB) flats on a new platform which aims to streamline the process of buying and selling a place. The portal, which is being progressively rolled out from Wednesday (Jan 13), consolidates information on current and upcoming flats sold directly by the HDB, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee in a Facebook post. He added that it may include HDB resale flat listings in subsequent phases. The portal includes customised financial calculators as well as information on housing loans provided by the HDB and various participating banks. Buyers can use the calculators to estimate their housing budget, to help them compare their housing options, said Mr Lee. Those planning to sell their flats for now can tap the calculators to estimate their sales proceeds, which also take into account monies which have to be returned to their Central Provident Fund. They will also be able to view past transactions around their estate. "This new portal will make it more convenient for home buyers and sellers to gather information on the purchase or sale of a flat through a single integrated platform," said Mr Lee. Then National Development Minister Lawrence Wong first announced the introduction of a HDB sales portal in September 2019, along with an Enhanced CPF Housing Grant which streamlined two previous grants. The enhanced grant also saw higher income ceilings for eligible first-time buyers. Those interested can find more information at the website. SingPass is needed to access some services. More on this topic   Related Story Smart BTO housing in Punggol Northshore offers utilities tracking, gantry-free carpark   Related Story HDB to launch 17,000 BTO flats in 2021, including in Bidadari, Queenstown and Geylang

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Habitat for Humanity Announces Participants in ShelterTech’s Latest Affordable Housing Accelerators

MANILA, Dec 2, 2020 - (ACN Newswire) - Habitat for Humanity's ShelterTech today announced the 20 startups and scaleups that will join the platform's newest accelerators -- one in Southeast Asia, the other in the Andean region of South America -- to advance housing solutions for low-income families. An initiative of Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, ShelterTech provides mentorship, masterclasses, connections to investors and partners and a wide range of additional support to businesses that hold the potential to tackle affordable housing challenges. The newest accelerators, which join existing ones in India, Kenya and Mexico, will be conducted online, with special focus on solutions that work in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.Over 100 ventures applied for the ShelterTech accelerators in Southeast Asia, vying for a chance to be part of the world's leading platform for affordable housing innovation. Prior to the final cohort announcement, startups went through a review with technical experts and ecosystem partners, diligence interviews and presentations before a selection committee. "We were very impressed by the quality and potential from applicants. It was not easy narrowing it down to ten startups, but these are the ventures we believe hold the greatest potential to grow and multiply their impact," said Lizan Kuster, associate director for entrepreneurship & innovation at Habitat's Terwilliger Center.ShelterTech selected startups with products and services that address housing livability and affordability, in sectors related to materials, labor, finance, land, markets, energy and water and sanitation. In Southeast Asia, the cohort is comprised of:- AffordAble Abodes, Malaysia- Nay Yar Housing, Myanmar- Billion Bricks, Singapore- Pounamu, Myanmar- Cubo Modular, Philippines- Sampangan, Indonesia- Gradana, Indonesia- Social Light, Philippines- My Dream Home, Cambodia- TapEffect, CambodiaWhile the startups are unique in their solutions, they share a common mission of making homes sustainable and resilient. In the Philippines, Social Light develops affordable Wi-Fi monetization strategies, where plastic waste can be used as a digital currency for affordable internet packages. My Dream Home, a Cambodian social enterprise, aims to bring down construction costs by producing affordable and environmentally friendly interlocking bricks, which are made of waste materials and abandoned soil purchased from local farmers. Read about the work of each startup here habitat.org/sheltertech/portfolio.Starting in December, the accelerator participants will go through an intense program, including technical trainings, refining their venture's value proposition and business plan, product demonstrations and one-on-one mentorship and support from housing sector experts. Regional mentors include Steve Melhuish, co-founder of PropertyGuru, Asia's largest online property portal group, Slater Young, founder and CEO of Liteblock and Tean Li, managing partner at Seeva Capital.A corresponding accelerator in the Andean region of South America also selected 10 startups for its cohort. Following the acceleration phase, startups and scaleups will have the opportunity to establish connections with global players in housing and impact investment, meeting investors, gaining exposure to funding opportunities and joining events to promote their products and services.About ShelterTechShelterTech is a global innovation platform advancing entrepreneurial housing solutions that radically improve the lives of low-income families. Supported by Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter and its partners, ShelterTech puts entrepreneurs at the center of a highly connected ecosystem of mentors, investors, peers, alumni and technical experts who share a passion for revolutionary ideas in affordable housing. For more information and opportunities, visit shelter-tech.orgAbout Habitat's Terwilliger Center for Innovation in ShelterThe Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter, a unit of Habitat for Humanity International, works with housing market actors to expand innovative and client-responsive services, products and financing so that households can improve their shelter more effectively and efficiently. The goal of the Terwilliger Center is to make housing markets work more effectively for people in need of decent, affordable shelter, thereby improving the quality of life for low-income households. To learn more, visit habitat.org/tcis.About Habitat for HumanityDriven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort and has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in more than 70 countries. In the Asia-Pacific region since 1983, Habitat for Humanity has supported millions of people to build or improve a place they can call home. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit habitat.org/asiapacificNotes to EditorsTo set up interviews, receive photos or gain additional information, please contact Julia Ferraz at jferraz@habitat.org, +852 61001806 or Michele Soh MSoh@habitat.org, +65 9233 1544. Copyright 2020 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.com

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