GOVERNMENT will embark on a major high-rise urban housing project, the first of its kind in Barbados.
The initiative, scheduled to start early next month, will see about 400 apartments constructed at Mason Hall Street, The City; Valery, Brittons Hill; The Grotto, Beckles Road; and at Exmouth, all in St Michael.
Minister of Housing and Lands Michael Lashley told the DAILY NATION yesterday that the apartments, which will be for sale or rental, would go six to seven storeys and would include some commercial areas for barbers, tailors and small shop proprietors.
Lashley said Cabinet had already approved the expected two-year housing project, which would be a collaborative effort with private contractors who were putting up the financing. He said they would be encouraged to involve small contractors in the programme.
Lashley said the initiative was part of Government’s urban renewal efforts. He added this type of high-rise project was an acknowledgement that there was a land scarcity in the island, questionable quality housing stock and the need to use every available space to provide housing solutions for Barbadians.
He said the Town & Country Planning Department had approved the Valery site and that at Mason Hall Street had already been acquired by the state.
The St Philip North MP also noted that with an eye towards the future, it was planned that construction students at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic would be absorbed into the programme on a weekend basis to provide them with on-the-job experience and to enhance the expertise of young artisans, especially with this type of multi-storey construction.
Lashley revealed that $40 million approved by Cabinet was now on the bank account of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and would go toward the housing projects to be commenced very shortly at Lancaster 1 and 2, St James, and Parish Land, Christ Church. Construction at these sites is to be carried out by over 15 small contractors.
He told the DAILY NATION that having completed the in-filling project at Sayes Court, Christ Church, the NHC would within the next few weeks start a similar exercise at Meadow Road, Wildey, and areas in the Pinelands housing estate.
Government has undertaken to extend existing units and build new homes on vacant space on established estates across the island.
Lashley revealed that construction on the Country Park Towers at Country Road, St Michael, had been completed and utilities were now being installed. These units would soon be made available for prospective homeowners, he said.
