Housing and Development Board

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The Housing & Development Board (HDB), often referred to as the Housing Board, is a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development (MND) that is responsible for public housing in Singapore. Established in 1960 as a result of efforts in the late 1950s to set up an authority to take over the Singapore Improvement Trust's (SIT) public housing responsibilities, the HDB focused on the construction of emergency housing and the resettlement of kampong residents into public housing in the first few years of its existence. Focus shifted in the late 1960s as the HDB began building flats with better fittings and offering them for sale. Starting in the 1970s, the board initiated efforts to improve community cohesion and solicit resident feedback. In the late 1980s, town councils were established to manage common property and oversee day to day maintenance. During the 1990s and 2000s, the HDB introduced redevelopment schemes for mature estates along with new housing types designed for various income groups in partnership with private developers. The HDB was reorganised in 2003 to better suit the housing market. Resident engagement regarding upgrading schemes increased throughout the 2000s and 2010s, and the board began solar panel installations in the early 2010s. Since the turn of the century, HDB designs have moved away from simple or brutalist styles toward improved contemporary aesthetics with improved amenities and facilities. The HDB consists of a 12-member board and three departments, the Building, Estate and Corporate departments. Besides the provision of public housing, the HDB also handles land reclamation works in Singapore and maintains the infrastructure of Singapore's national resource stockpiles. It is also a major purchaser of state land from the Government with the purchase price payable by HDB going into the past reserves.