Govt, town councils to bear bulk of HDB shops' upgrading costs

Singapore

AMID heightened competition from suburban malls and a growing e-commerce scene, Housing and Development Board (HDB) shops are getting a significant helping hand from the government - they will now foot just a fifth of shop upgrading costs, capped at S$5,000.

HDB and town councils will co-fund the balance 80 per cent, or up to S$30,000 per shop - a marked increase from the current scheme, where shop owners pay 50 per cent of upgrading costs.