Three vacant Housing Board blocks in MacPherson Lane, initially slated for redevelopment, will soon be repurposed as temporary rental housing for families awaiting their Build-To-Order (BTO) flats.
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) issued a tender in February for refurbishment works at Blocks 81 to 83 MacPherson Lane. These blocks were selected for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) in 2018. The tender, which closed on March 14, includes upgrading 307 units of 2-, 3-, and 4-room flats. Renovations will cover the replacement of gates, doors, and windows, as well as painting and electrical rewiring.
Table of contents
- Understanding the SERS scheme and PPHS flats
- Increased supply of temporary housing
- Other SERS sites utilised for PPHS
Understanding the SERS scheme and PPHS flats
According to HDB, the flats will be allocated under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS) until the end of 2028, when the site will be redeveloped.
The PPHS is an initiative introduced in 2013, aimed at easing the transition for families waiting for their new BTO flats. PPHS units are rented out at below-market rates, providing an affordable temporary housing solution. Eligible households must have a monthly income of S$7,000 or below and have an unfinished flat from HDB’s sales exercises. Priority is usually given to married couples with children under 18, and expectant parents.
The Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme was introduced in 1995 as part of HDB’s efforts to renew older estates and optimise land use. Under SERS, selected blocks are redeveloped, and affected residents are provided with compensation and rehousing options, often in nearby precincts. While SERS sites are eventually redeveloped, some, like MacPherson Lane, have been temporarily repurposed to meet pressing housing needs.
Increased supply of temporary housing
HDB has significantly increased the availability of PPHS flats, expanding from 800 units in 2021 to approximately 2,000 in 2024, with plans to further double this to 4,000 units by 2025.
While the residential units at MacPherson Lane will soon house families, the 27 shop units and two eating houses located within the blocks will remain closed. For residents, the primary alternative would be the Grantral Mall which has a supermarket, clinic, and food court; all within a five-minute walk.
Despite HDB’s efforts to use PPHS as temporary housing, their demand has seen a sharp decline. In 2021, there were over 20 applicants per unit, which reduced to about three per unit in 2024. Last year, HDB offered 1,200 flats under PPHS selection exercises, receiving 3,500 applications.
Other SERS sites utilised for PPHS
This is not the first instance of a SERS site being used for temporary rental housing. In 2024, HDB announced that approximately 2,000 units in Tanglin Halt would be repurposed for PPHS from the second half of 2025. Similarly, in Jurong, refurbishment is underway for four vacant 21-storey blocks along Yung Kuang Road in Taman Jurong. HDB is still reviewing long-term plans for these blocks.
Electrical upgrades at the Yung Kuang Road blocks, which are known as the “diamond blocks” due to their distinctive layout, are currently underway. Originally built by JTC in the 1970s, the blocks currently house families awaiting their BTO flats. As part of the Electrical Load Upgrading Programme (ELUP), HDB is enhancing the power supply of approximately 1,500 older blocks from 30 amperes to 40 amperes, with completion targeted by 2030.
The Yung Kuang Road blocks, comprising 456 units, have served as interim housing in the past and also accommodated migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. While most of the blocks have been vacant since December 2020, some ground-floor shops, including bakeries, minimarts, and medical clinics, continue to operate, serving nearby residents and workers from surrounding industrial areas.
With demand for temporary housing still present, HDB remains committed to expanding PPHS offerings while ensuring families in need receive prioritised support.
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