Built-to-order (BTO) flat construction will be accelerated upon the lifting of the Covid-19 social distancing and circuit breaker measures, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced.
While Singapore is currently halting many activities and niche industrial proceedings, including construction, the government is beginning to announce plans and strategies for fast and effective recovery.
A focus on HDB flat construction will be one of the priorities in the coming months.
If you’re anticipating the finalisation of your brand new BTO flat, you have no reason to worry about the announced completion period. While you’re waiting, however, you can do a couple of things to speed things up when you come in possession.
BTO Construction during and After the Covid-19 Circuit Breaker Period
In an attempt to slow down the spread of the coronavirus infection, the Singapore government announced a range of circuit breaker measures aimed at optimising social distancing.
One of the measures is the suspension of construction. All BTO projects have been temporarily paused and the worksites have been closed. Currently, the measure is meant to last until May 4, after which the government will announce what the plan moving forward would be.
The HDB statement issued on April 9 reads that the board will work closely with contractors to monitor progress and assess the impact that the circuit breaker measures have had on it. Upon necessity, strategies for speeding up construction work will be considered, the HDB statement concluded.
HDB also announced that should there be any changes to the project execution timeline, Singaporeans would be informed via the My HDBPage.
An Overview of Brand New BTO Projects
Numerous BTO projects are to reach their estimated completion date over the course of 2020.
Some of these include Alkaff Oasis and Alkaff CourtView in Bidadari, Northshore Residencies I and II in Punggol and Clementi Crest in Clementi.
In May of 2020, the HDB is anticipated to launch 3,700 BTO flats across projects like Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris, Tampines and Tengah. In addition, 160 assisted living flats for seniors have to be launched at the same time in Bukit Batok.
The halting of construction work has also meant that some brand new home owners have found themselves incapable of completing the renovation of their HDB properties.
Regardless of this fact, the Straits Times reported that some people have been forced to move into their semi-completed flats. Applying for a temporary extension to stay and benefit from a prolonged new home renovation period often means having to pay way too much. Hence, some people have chosen to move into their new flats and wait for the end of the circuit breaker period to commence renovations.
The circuit breaker period was initiated on April 7 and since then, both construction and internal home renovation have been discontinued. Only work classified as necessary or an essential service can currently be completed.
Once the measures were announced, approximately 300 homeowners and contractors turned to HDB with a request for an extension to complete ongoing projects. Each of these requests has been assessed on an individual basis, especially taking in consideration if renovation that make the flat liveable can be completed by April 9 or two days after the introduction of the circuit breaker period.
Works like toilet upgrading and electrical work have been permitted but more extensive renovations had to be discontinued.
Some of the homeowners have gone as far as appealing the HDB decision. Such efforts, however, have been unsuccessful in securing an extension.
What Can You Do Right Now?
The fact that construction and interior design companies don’t work on projects right now gives you an opportunity to plan for the future.
If you’re about to buy a home or upgrade an existing flat, you can take your time, find sources of inspiration on social media like Pinterest and do online research to save time and get to work after the end of the lockdown.
Do check the HDB website for updates and new announcements pertaining to the circuit breaker period and its potential extension depending on the current rate of infection in Singapore.
Those who are to come in possession of a brand new BTO flat to be completed later on in 2020 can access the floor plan to plan the interior renovation work.
While interior designers aren’t meeting clients to conceptualise projects right now, it’s still possible to benefit from their expert assistance.
Home Guide’s home interior design team is on standby to land you a helping hand, regardless of the fact that we cannot come to your location right now.
Don’t hesitate to contact us via our social media profiles or WhatsApp to discuss the specifics of your flat renovation. We can consult you, help you plan the execution and commence the work once the circuit breaker period is over.
Checking out our portfolio or going through our blog can also help you get inspired. We’ve worked on dozens of projects through the years and we’ve dealt with an array of interior design styles. Whatever you’ve conceptualised for your new home, we can deliver!
We have also put together a guide on planning interior design work while you’re spending quality time home with your loved ones.
For the time being, however, stay home and stay safe! At Home Guide, we believe that this too shall pass and all of us will be getting back to normal life very soon.
