Taman Free School Flats slated for pilot project in 2016

GEORGE TOWN: The Taman Free School flats have been earmarked for a pilot urban regeneration project which aims to begin in 2016.

Penang Housing Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh said a newly formed urban regeneration committee (URC) will meet on Dec 7 to iron out the legalities and details.

He said urban regeneration involved demolishing the old residential spaces and building new ones with bigger units and better facilities like parks, commercial areas, handrails for the elderly and panic buttons.

Jagdeep added that urban regeneration of public housing projects were needed as maintenance may not be so economical in the long run and so may be better to rebuild for the long term.

He said the government has spent RM21.1 million since 2008 to maintain four public housing projects state wide, namely Taman Free School Flats, Padang Tembak Flats, Taman Tun Sardon Flats and the Mak Mandin flats.