Decision to consider building homes on greenery, heritage sites not made lightly: Indranee

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance, and Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah speaking at SG Youth Plan’s Adulting 101 series at Scape on Sept 14.

ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

Published Sep 14, 2026, 09:22 PM

Updated Sep 14, 2026, 09:24 PM

SINGAPORE - The Government’s decisions to consider building homes on greenery or heritage sites are not made lightly, and are only undertaken if there are no suitable existing or brownfield sites, said Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah.

She added that the authorities deal with land constraints in two ways: by balancing competing needs in every decision on land use, and by enlarging space - for example, reclaiming land, building taller or going deeper - to create options for current and future generations.

Indranee was speaking to youths on Sept 14 ahead of a closed-door dialogue on housing. It was jointly organised by her ministry and the National Youth Council and held at *SCAPE Ground Theatre.

In her speech, she noted that people are living longer, with many seniors choosing to age in their own homes. Meanwhile, more young people and singles want their own homes , she said. As a result, the average household size in HDB units has declined from almost five in 1980 to less than three in 2025.

With the demand for more flats, the authorities have to find more sites to build on, she said.

To make the best use of brownfield sites - that is, previously developed land - the strategy is to build higher where possible. For instance, an upcoming housing development at the foot of Pearl’s Hill in Outram Park will be over 60 storeys.

The authorities are also redeveloping golf courses after their leases expire.

By 2030, it will have taken back more than 400ha of golf-course land, or the size of almost 600 football fields, for redevelopment. This includes the former Keppel Club golf course where the new Berlayar estate will be built as part of the Greater Southern Waterfront.

“If there are no suitable existing or brownfield sites, we need to consider developing housing on sites where there is greenery or (sites that) have been around for a long time,” Indranee said.

“In shaping the plans, greenery and heritage are important to us too,” she added, saying that the Government also takes in feedback from technical experts in nature and heritage groups, and tries to minimise and mitigate any impact on the environment or heritage.

Said Indranee: “So, as we build more to meet housing needs, we will do so carefully and responsibly, and decide in the best interests of Singapore and Singaporeans.”

In July, the HDB published reports of environmental studies for Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way in Clementi, where parts of forests are expected to make way for public housing .

Following public feedback, Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan said more green spaces in Gillman Barracks and Sunset Way’s Maju Forest will be retained , but fewer homes can be built there.

Turning to the supply of public housing, Indranee noted that the Government has committed to launching 55,000 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats from 2025 to 2027, and will exceed this number if demand remains strong.

The supply of two-room flexi flats will be increased by nearly 50 per cent from 2026 to 2028, compared with 2023 to 2025, to meet the growing demand from seniors and singles.

The increased supply has allowed the authorities to raise the income ceiling for subsidised flats to allow more Singaporeans to buy an HDB home.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced at the National Day Rally in August that the income ceiling for BTO flats will be increased to $16,000 for families and $8,000 for singles.

Indranee said her ministry is studying lowering the BTO eligibility age for singles, and also reviewing schemes to better meet the needs of other groups of singles, such as those who wish to buy a bigger flat with their family members.

At present, singles are allowed to apply for only two-room flexi flats from age 35.

Indranee said that housing in Singapore is affordable because BTOs are heavily subsidised, and there are various housing grants available.

“BTO flats are priced for affordability, not cost recovery,” she said.

In 2025, nine in 10 first-timer families who collected the keys to their BTO flats were able to service their HDB housing loans using their CPF, with little or no cash outlay.

And to support young Singaporeans in securing a flat, first-timer families with or expecting children will receive one extra ballot chance for each child, she noted.

Isabelle Liew is a journalist at The Straits Times. She covers housing issues in Singapore, with a focus on public housing.

Ministry of National Development

总理公署部长、财政部第二部长兼国家发展部第二部长英兰妮·拉贾于 9 月 14 日在 Scape 出席新加坡青年计划的“成人入门 101”系列讲座。

《海峡时报》摄影：JASON QUAH

发布于 2026 年 9 月 14 日晚上 9:22

更新于2026年9月14日晚上9:24

新加坡——国家发展部第二部长英兰妮·拉贾表示，政府不会轻易考虑在绿地或历史遗址上建造房屋，只有在没有合适的现有用地或棕地的情况下才会这样做。

她补充说，当局通过两种方式应对土地限制：一是平衡土地利用决策中相互冲突的需求；二是扩大空间——例如，填海造地、建造更高的建筑物或向下挖掘——为当代和后代创造选择。

9月14日，英兰妮在与青年举行住房问题闭门对话之前发表了讲话。此次对话由她的部门和国家青年理事会联合举办，地点在SCAPE Ground剧院。

她在演讲中指出，人们的寿命越来越长，许多老年人选择在家养老。与此同时，越来越多的年轻人和单身人士也希望拥有自己的住房。因此，组屋的平均家庭规模已从1980年的近5人减少到2025年的不足3人。

她表示，随着对更多公寓的需求增加，当局必须寻找更多地块进行建设。

为了最大限度地利用棕地（即已开发土地），策略是尽可能建造更高的建筑。例如，位于欧南园珍珠山脚下的一个即将开发的住宅项目将超过60层。

当局还在高尔夫球场租约到期后对其进行重新开发。

到2030年，该公司将收回超过400公顷的高尔夫球场用地，相当于近600个足球场的面积，用于重新开发。这其中包括原吉宝俱乐部高尔夫球场，新的柏莱雅住宅区将在此兴建，作为南部滨水区的一部分。

“如果没有合适的现有用地或棕地，我们需要考虑在有绿地或存在已久的地块上开发住房，”英德拉妮说。

她补充说：“在制定计划时，绿化和文化遗产对我们来说也很重要。”她还表示，政府也会听取自然和文化遗产团体的技术专家的反馈意见，并努力将对环境或文化遗产的任何影响降到最低并减轻其影响。

英兰妮说：“因此，当我们建造更多房屋以满足住房需求时，我们将谨慎负责地进行，并以新加坡和新加坡人民的最大利益为出发点做出决定。”

7 月，建屋发展局公布了吉尔曼军营和金文泰日落道的环境研究报告，预计部分森林将被让位于公共住房。

根据公众反馈，国家发展部政务部长陈庆炎表示，吉尔曼军营和日落大道马朱森林的更多绿地将被保留，但那里可以建造的房屋数量将减少。

谈到公共住房的供应，英兰妮指出，政府已承诺在 2025 年至 2027 年间推出 55,000 套预购组屋 (BTO)，如果需求保持强劲，实际数量将超过这一数字。

为满足老年人和单身人士日益增长的需求，2026年至2028年两房式灵活组屋的供应量将比2023年至2025年增加近50%。

供应量的增加使得当局能够提高补贴组屋的收入上限，从而使更多新加坡人能够购买组屋。

总理黄循财在8月的国庆群众大会上宣布，购置组屋的收入上限将提高至家庭16000新元，单身人士8000新元。

英兰妮表示，她的部门正在研究降低单身人士购买预购组屋的资格年龄，并审查相关计划，以更好地满足其他单身人士群体的需求，例如那些希望与家人一起购买更大组屋的人。

目前，单身人士从 35 岁起只能申请两室灵活组屋。

Indranee表示，新加坡的住房价格实惠，因为组屋（BTO）有大量补贴，而且还有各种住房津贴。

“组屋的定价是为了让人们能够负担得起，而不是为了收回成本，”她说。

到 2025 年，十分之九的首次购房家庭在拿到预购组屋钥匙后，能够使用公积金偿还建屋发展局的房屋贷款，几乎无需或完全无需现金支出。

她指出，为了帮助新加坡年轻人获得组屋，首次购房的家庭，无论有无子女或即将生育子女，每个孩子都将获得一次额外的抽签机会。

Isabelle Liew是《海峡时报》的记者，主要报道新加坡的住房问题，尤其关注公共住房。

国家发展部