Indranee urges developers to include family-friendly spaces amid Singapore's parenthood push

Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah has called on property developers to build more family-friendly spaces, including lactation rooms and intergenerational common areas. Speaking at REDAS' mid-autumn lunch on Sep 23, she said the real estate sector has a meaningful role in suppor

SINGAPORE: Second Minister for National Development Indranee Rajah on Wednesday (Sep 23) urged property developers to include more family-friendly spaces in their projects, amid a broader push by Singapore to support marriage and parenthood.

Speaking at the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore's (REDAS) mid-autumn lunch, Ms Indranee called on developers to include “intentional and inclusive” spaces for young children and elderly people.

Ms Indranee's speech comes as Singapore's total fertility rate fell to a record low in 2025. At the National Day Rally in August, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong gave a preview of the first set of recommendations proposed by the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup chaired by Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

“Reversing the downward trend for marriage and parenthood, which is a global trend and not limited to Singapore, cannot be done by government alone,” she said. “It must be a whole-of-society effort.”

Ms Indranee called on developers to “provide leadership to your design and consultancy teams and give guidance to include intentional and inclusive spaces for families in your projects”. Her suggestions included family-friendly common spaces, lactation rooms or facilities in commercial buildings, and spaces that cater to young children and elderly grandparents alike.

“I urge you to see your malls not just as places for shopping, but as potential hubs for the community where you can have activities for singles and families,” she said.

Speaking to developers in their capacity as employers, Ms Indranee highlighted challenges young parents face in balancing work and caregiving. “We cannot operate using norms and practices that served us in the 2000s and 2010s,” she added.

Ms Indranee also announced tighter checks for complex building projects. From September 2028, accredited checkers and accredited checker organisations undertaking larger projects must demonstrate relevant recent experience and a good track record.