SINGAPORE – Work at eight Housing Board commercial complexes has been hit by delays due to the Covid-19 situation, while upgrading at a ninth will be delayed by a year after its main contractor went bust.
Upgrading at Sunshine Place in Choa Chu Kang Avenue 3, which began in August 2020, includes building a sheltered community plaza and new linkway, expanding the foodcourt and adding more shops.
While the plaza is almost completed, the rest of the works have stalled after the main contractor, HCJ Construction, went into liquidation in January, said HDB in response to queries from The Straits Times.
A new contractor is expected to be appointed by the second quarter of this year, and the project is slated for completion by the second quarter of 2023, a year after its original completion date.
For the eight HDB commercial complexes affected by pandemic-related issues, delays range from three to 15 months, with a median delay of nine months, and five are nearing completion with 95 per cent or more of the works done, said the board.
Among the nine are 888 Plaza in Woodlands, Pasir Ris West Plaza, Admiralty Place and Limbang Shopping Centre in Choa Chu Kang.
HDB said: “The extent of delay varies by project and depends on site-specific factors such as manpower availability, site conditions, contractor’s performance and the supply of materials.”
In a written parliamentary reply on Feb 18 addressing the measures taken to support such affected developments, the Ministry of National Development (MND) said HDB holds regular meetings with its contractors and monitors progress of the projects through its monthly payment to contractors.
“Any deviation to the progress claims based on the approved construction schedule will be highlighted and deliberated at these meetings,” said MND.
“HDB will also look out for tell-tale signs, such as persistent slow progress or a sudden reduction of workers on-site, and if necessary, immediately engage the contractors to discuss measures to ensure that the projects remain on schedule as far as possible.”
HDB manages over 30 commercial complexes across Singapore, with 10 being constructed or upgraded. Only one project, Parc Residences@Tengah in the upcoming “forest town” of Tengah, has not incurred any delays as construction has just started, said HDB.
Of the 10 ongoing projects, seven are existing complexes undergoing upgrading. The rest are upcoming neighbourhood centres that will be completed in tandem with their integrated Build-To-Order projects.
Shop tenants in existing complexes have been supported through rental rebates during the upgrading period, and most essential shops remain in operation to meet the shopping and dining needs of residents, said HDB.
The only exception is Sunshine Place, where the foodcourt is closed for upgrading. But seven food and beverage outlets in the complex are still operating, with several others within walking distance, said HDB, which is also looking into installing hot food vending machines in the estate to provide more options for residents.
Mr Aide Anuar, 26, who manages Malay food stall Opah Corner in Sunshine Place, said food delivery orders make up around half of its daily revenue, as footfall has been low since upgrading began.
The family-run food stall currently sits in a dead end with construction barriers blocking the exit passageway.
“When the construction works are done and the barriers are removed, it’ll open up to the foodcourt and the nearby HDB blocks so people will start walking past our stall again,” Mr Aide said.
Tuition teacher Alyssa Misari, 36, who has lived in the area for eight years, said: “The prolonged renovation is slightly inconvenient but it is expected because of the pandemic so I try not to fixate on these things, which are out of my control.”
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