The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) is set to increase funding support by two-fold for its Accessibility Fund to enable building owners to retrofit their buildings with barrier-free-accessibility (BFA) features.

Currently, through BCA's $40 million Accessibility Fund, building owners can receive up to 40% funding for a basic accessibility package that covers a minimum set of barrier-free features.

With the revision, BCA will now co-pay up to 80% for basic accessibility package.

The Accessibility Fund will also be extended to cover 40% funding for additional barrier-free-accessibility features beyond the basic features.

The maximum value that can be granted under the enhanced incentive package will also be increased from $150,000 per building to $300,000 per building.

Available with immediate effect, the scheme is open to all private buildings except for landed residential properties.

"We hope that with the enhancements to the Accessibility Fund, more owners of buildings built before 1990 will come forward to provide greater barrier-free accessibility to the buildings. Such improvement works on accessibility will benefit the customers and users of their buildings and help owners and companies discharge their corporate social responsibility.

"Over time, such works will shape a friendly built environment and help create a more inclusive society, enabling users with various mobility needs to move around with ease", said Dr John Keung, BCA's CEO.

BCA has also launched its Friendly Built Environment Portal, www.friendlybuildings.sg today. It is a one-stop portal for information on universal design and accessibility to cater to the special needs of different user groups.

In line with BCA's initiatives to build awareness , a series of seminars and workshops have been organised on universal design in conjunction with BCA's Friendly Built Environment Week which was launched by Parliamentary Secretary for National Development, Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman today.

Held at its research and education hub, BCA Academy of the Built Environment, renowned architectural practitioners of universal design from America, Australia, Hong Kong and Japan will be sharing best practices with industry professionals and tertiary students, from today to Oct 18, 2008.