WP MP Louis Chua Calls for More Coffee Shops & Conveniences in ‘Forgotten’ Neighbourhoods

SINGAPORE — Workers’ Party MP Louis Chua reminded Parliament on Tuesday (Jan 10) of the importance of ensuring neighbourhoods have access to essential services, stating that “home is where the heart is.” He urged the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to prioritize the availability of coffee shops and convenience stores in underserved areas, proposing that HDB allocate void deck spaces to ensure at least one coffee shop is available for every two precincts.

“Many residents have often shared with me and my fellow Sengkang MPs about the lack of coffee shops and everyday conveniences in their neighbourhood. For instance, in my Rivervale division, while Rivervale Plaza and Rivervale Mall offer some retail options for those living nearby, there is only one coffee shop and one convenience store in the entire division,” Chua explained.

This shortage of facilities can pose challenges for elderly residents or those with mobility issues, he said. “Having a meal or buying groceries can become a difficult task, often requiring public or private transport,” he added. “If I had grown up in present-day Sengkang instead of Ang Mo Kio, I wouldn’t have been able to buy lunch for myself!”

Chua urged HDB to address gaps in areas like Sengkang, which are currently underserved. He also suggested that underutilized spaces in Multi-Storey Carparks (MSCP) could be converted into commercial areas, even if these spaces couldn’t accommodate coffee shops.

He further proposed that HDB offer low-rent commercial spaces allocated by ballot to encourage microbusinesses, social enterprises, and entrepreneurship in the heartlands.

“Coffee shops and convenience stores are not just about providing essential services; they are community spaces where residents meet their everyday needs and foster bonds with their neighbours,” Chua emphasized, adding that these hubs are integral to Singapore’s heartland culture and should be actively promoted.

Chua, who represents the Rivervale division of Sengkang GRC, voiced his support for the HDB Amendment Bill, which focuses on upgrading heartland shops. Reflecting on his own upbringing in Ang Mo Kio, he fondly recalled how “the unassuming neighbourhood centre had almost everything that we needed.” /TISG