The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) is a former government organisation that was responsible for urban planning and urban renewal in Singapore. Formally established in 1927 under the Singapore Improvement Ordinance, it was modelled after similar organisations in India. The SIT initially carried out back lane improvement schemes and marking out unsanitary buildings for demolition, but began constructing public housing from 1935. After 1945, the SIT initially focused its efforts on the repair of its residential developments. It resumed constructing public housing in 1947 but was unable to keep up with demand. The SIT was also involved in the development of a "Master Plan", which set out Singapore's developmental direction, from 1952 to 1958. In the late 1950s, plans were set out to replace the SIT with two departments—housing and planning—culminating in two bills that were passed in 1959. With the establishment of the successor organisations by the government of Singapore, the Housing and Development Authority and the Planning Authority, in 1960, the SIT was dissolved.
The SIT consisted of a Board of Trustees, two staff, and additional workers to conduct maintenance work, along with an Estates Department, established in 1947, which handled the land and developments of the organisation. A property tax known as the Improvement Rate, rent revenue and government loans financed the SIT's projects. SIT assigned flats to applicants using a points system.
History
Background
In the early 20th century, Singapore was experiencing rapid expansion and development, and the local government was unable to handle significant town improvement schemes. A 1907 report by a public health commissioner called for the construction of back lanes to facilitate the removal of human waste. The municipal authorities subsequently took up such work. A report by a housing commission in 1918 recommended that Singapore's urban planning be handled by a trust, similar to what had been done in India.
In light of these developments, the Singapore Improvement Trust was established as a department of the Municipal Commission in 1920, and was intended to control housing and planning in Singapore. Initially, the SIT carried out surveys of partially developed and undeveloped plots, surveys for road widening, and work on back lanes. Planning for urban renewal and housing schemes commenced in 1925. Nevertheless, the resources and powers provided to the SIT proved insufficient for it to carry out urban renewal. Moreover, a draft Town Improvement and Development bill that was to facilitate the SIT's work in town planning was rejected by the Singapore colonial government in 1924, leaving the position of the SIT unclear.
After a committee report noted the SIT's necessity a bill to form the SIT as an independent organisation was prepared from June 1924. The resulting bill, the Singapore Town Improvement Bill, was introduced to the Legislative Council in February 1927.
Establishment
The Singapore Improvement Ordinance, signed into law on 1 July 1927, formally established the SIT. Its purpose was "to provide for the Improvement of the Town and Island of Singapore". The Ordinance applied to both the town and island of Singapore except for areas occupied by the British military. Upon its establishment, the SIT was tasked to prepare the "General Town Plan", using survey data to produce plans for different parts of Singapore; it was frequently amended and updated.
The SIT soon started work on what The Straits Times claimed was to be a model housing scheme at the Lavender Street—Serangoon Road intersection, and land clearance in Tiong Bahru. In addition, the SIT constructed parks and open spaces near densely populated areas, carried out planning for the expansion and construction of roads and back lanes, and marked out buildings that were unsuitable to house people for demolition without compensating the owners. In 1931, the SIT carried out a scheme to construct houses for artisans in the Balestier Road area, thereby providing workers with sanitary and affordable residential facilities.
The 1930s and 1940s
In 1935, the SIT declared several buildings on Bugis Street too unsanitary for people to live in and ordered them razed. The owners of the buildings disputed the order, bringing the case to the Supreme Court in January 1935, and to the Privy Council in 1937. The SIT lost the case, so such declarations were no longer carried out as they were regarded as too difficult.