Latest update December 4th, 2024 2:40 AM
CH&PA set to unveil new housing solutions in ‘model village’
Government, through the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), will be
One of the flat duplex houses under construction. This building will house two families which will be separated by an eight-inch solid wall.
moving to unveil new housing solutions in its model village at an exposition slated to be held in May, at Perseverance, East Bank Demerara.
Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility, Valerie Patterson, had stated earlier this year that the CH&PA will be moving away from just providing house lots to citizens. She had argued that the need for homes had overweighed the need for house lots.
Further, the construction of duplexes was cited as one solution to various challenges including the unavailability of lands.
“We have recognized that one family per house lot with approximately 23,000 applications within the system is not possible for the government, not even in the next five years. So we have decided that with the land that we have, we can accommodate more families if we provide housing units instead of a house lot, especially given that only about fifty-five percent of lots allocated (in the past) has been occupied,” Patterson had said.
Data-driven development
The model village, as was explained during a tour facilitated by CH&PA top Officials, will showcase the various options being proposed to citizens.
Some 30 houses are being built through collaboration between the Government and private developers/exhibitors. They offer solutions for low, middle and high income earners.
Further, it is expected that the event will garner preferences from persons desirous of owning a home. Their views will be generated into data, which will help CH&PA craft policies and future plans.
According to the Ministry of Communities Project Manager, Kennard Dazzell, it is important to develop a culture where development is driven by data.
An elevated duplex. This home will cater for two families. The arrow shows the solid wall that will separate the two households.
He noted that the homes in the village began some nine weeks ago and that works were progressing smoothly.
These homes, after the exposition, will be sold. The prices for these homes will be announced at a later date, Dazzell said. He noted that the objective is to provide ‘affordable homes’ for persons.
The choices, he said, include concrete and timber versions of two-storied, flat, single elevated, single family unit and duplexes.
Similar undertakings, Dazzell said, will be carried out at 10 locations in six Administrative Regions including Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam); Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara); Four (Demerara/Mahaica); Five (Mahaica/Berbice); Six (East Berbice/Corentyne); and 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper Essequibo).
Overall, 758 units will be constructed around the country to cater for approximately 2,100 families.
Quality Control
The houses being built, the Project Manager said, will be of high quality. “Quality is something that we take very seriously,” he said.
He continued that the CH&PA is using a module which will enable the housing authority to better monitor the works being done by contractors.
“It’s a module where the Ministry itself is responsible for the supply of the materials hence we have greater control of what comes in and (is) issued to the contractors.”
“ Every step of the way, it’s being monitored. From the concrete, we take the necessary stomp test, we monitor the water/cement ratio that’s being poured, the steel arrangement – I myself, have been with the guys checking every step of the way – checking the stirrups (steel binders)”
Dazzell boasted that these 30 houses will be “far more superior” to those constructed in the past.
Duplexes
Dazzell spoke about a ‘mindset’ where people have reservations about living in duplexes. He sought to clarify some of the ‘misinterpretations’.
“There will be some rules and regulations that will be applied to persons living in duplexes. They must maintain the aesthetics of the community.
A lot of persons have this mindset – it’s a duplex and I have to share with somebody but I don’t know about my neighbour… At the end of the day, the objective is to ensure that the beneficiaries’ needs are met.”
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