What is the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP)?
Introduced in July 1989, the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) was an initiative to revitalise older public housing estates. The plan encompassed various enhancements to the flats, blocks, and precinct areas.
How did the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) work?
The Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) primarily focused on blocks that were over 20 years old, aiming to improve the condition of the flats and extend their lifespan. The programme included various improvements within the flats, such as upgrading toilets and conducting necessary repairs.
As part of the MUP, some residents were even granted the opportunity to add approximately 6 square metres (or 54.58 square feet) of additional space to their units, enhancing the living area.
The MUP encompassed the upgrading of blocks and precincts. This involved replacing older facilities with new ones, introducing improved amenities like lifts and lift lobbies, constructing drop-off porches and walkways for enhanced accessibility, and transforming surface car parks into multi-storey ones. These efforts aimed to create more outdoor spaces for greenery and recreational facilities, enhancing the overall living environment for residents.
To ensure affordability, the government bore a significant portion of the upgrading cost, with flat owners contributing between 10 and 25 percent depending on the flat type. Implementing the MUP in a precinct required the agreement of at least 75 percent of the flat owners.
Is the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) still active?
The MUP commenced with a pilot phase in 1991, during which upgrading works were carried out on four vacant blocks in Teban Gardens and Woodlands to fine-tune the programme. It then progressed to the demonstration phase, involving 6,000 flats the following year.
Due to its popularity during the demonstration phase, the MUP entered a steady-state phase and continued until it was eventually replaced by the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) in 2007.
The MUP concluded in 2012 when all the planned works were completed in the final outstanding precinct in Ang Mo Kio.
Why was the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) replaced?
The HIP replaced the MUP due to its greater flexibility and affordability.
Unlike the MUP, the HIP allows residents to have more choices regarding optional items, and they are only required to contribute a cost ranging from 5 to 12.5 percent, depending on their flat type.
The replacement was also introduced to prioritise smaller, more practical repairs within the flat, aiming to minimise disruption for residents.
