The management of large‐scale upgrading programmes for public housing in Singapore

States that unlike other developed countries where upgrading works have been in place for many years, the upgrading programme mounted by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) is still in its infancy stage in Singapore. Notes, however, that, unlike the upgrading experience in other developed countries, the programme undertaken in Singapore is on a more massive scale involving a larger proportion of the population. In view of these two major differences between the HDB’s experience and of the developed world, sets out to examine: the rationale for upgrading older public housing estates in Singapore; the various phases implemented by the HDB for its upgrading programmes in Singapore; and the measure adopted by the HDB and its contractors to minimize hazards and inconvenience to residents.