Spottiswoode Park Residents Vote on Estate Renewal Under First Participatory Budgeting Trial
HDB Estate Renewal | The Straits Times | 12 Jul 2026
In a national first, residents of Spottiswoode Park are voting on how to spend a S$200,000 budget for estate renewal upgrades under Singapore’s first participatory budgeting trial. Six proposals were shortlisted from 162 ideas gathered since the trial launched in April, with costs ranging from about S$10,000 for stone seats to S$550,000 for a rock-climbing wall, far exceeding the available budget and requiring residents to choose their priorities.
Budget from Tote Board fund
Ideas submitted by residents
Proposals shortlisted for vote
Construction start target
Singapore’s First Participatory Budgeting Trial
The estate renewal trial at Spottiswoode Park is organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and Tanjong Pagar Town Council. Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Foo Cexiang spoke at a community exhibition on July 11, where the six shortlisted proposals were presented to residents.
The S$200,000 budget comes from the Future-Ready Society Impact Fund administered by the Tote Board. Since the trial’s launch in April, residents had submitted 162 ideas for improving their estate, which were eventually narrowed down to six proposals for the final vote.
The Six Shortlisted Proposals
The proposals span a wide range of costs, from modest improvements to ambitious installations. They include stone seats at Blocks 104 and 106 at an estimated cost of about S$10,000, a reflexology pebble path at Block 103 costing roughly S$48,000, and a shared pickleball court near Block 108 at about S$10,000 for the conversion with an optional S$80,000 noise barrier.
Larger-scale proposals include a sheltered barbecue pit at the amphitheatre estimated at about S$120,000, sprucing up void decks at Blocks 103 to 110 at roughly S$130,000, and the most ambitious item, a rock-climbing wall at Block 103 with an estimated price tag of about S$550,000.
Since the combined cost of all six proposals significantly exceeds the S$200,000 budget, residents must vote on which projects to prioritise. Voting is being held from July 11 to 13 at the Spottiswoode Park Residents’ Network office, with results expected in late July. Construction on the selected projects is scheduled to begin from late 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is participatory budgeting?
Participatory budgeting is a democratic process where residents directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. The Spottiswoode Park trial is the first of its kind in Singapore, allowing residents to vote on which estate renewal projects to prioritise within a fixed S$200,000 budget.
Who organised the Spottiswoode Park estate renewal trial?
The trial was organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) and Tanjong Pagar Town Council, with funding from the Future-Ready Society Impact Fund administered by the Tote Board.
What proposals are residents voting on?
Six proposals were shortlisted from 162 ideas. They include stone seats, a reflexology pebble path, a shared pickleball court, a sheltered barbecue pit, void deck improvements, and a rock-climbing wall. Costs range from about S$10,000 to S$550,000, and the total far exceeds the budget, so residents must prioritise.
When will construction begin?
Construction on the selected projects is expected to start from late 2026, following the vote results expected in late July 2026.
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