HDB extends deadline for affected shopowners

About 20 shopowners in a Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) are not happy with the compensation offered by HDB to move to new premises.

HDB has extended the deadline for the shopowners to accept replacement units. The affected shops are located at Block 113 and 114 Bukit Merah View.

Compensation ranging from S$486,000 to S$780,000 was being offered by HDB to affected shopowners, but they said it is not enough.

The replacement shops offered by HDB are only one-third the size of their existing shops, and only have a 30-year lease period compared to their current shops’ remaining 60-year lease, they said.

HDB, however, said the price is largely based on the market value, adding that the 30-year lease was intended to ease the financial burden on lessees.

The new shops near the Tiong Bahru MRT station would also attract more crowds, it added.

Meanwhile, shopowners will be given one more month to decide if they would accept the new shops. So far, seven out of the 31 owners have agreed to take up the new premises.