–          as part of PPP/C’s expanded housing programme for next term

AFTER surpassing its 2020 target of delivering 50,000 residential houselots, President Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that a re-elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration will roll out an ambitious plan to build 40,000 new homes across the country, with a comprehensive strategy to expand and regularise housing areas while driving billions of dollars in investment into the economy.

The head of state made this known during a recent interview, during which he explained that the enormous demand for housing has necessitated a larger expansion of the government’s programme, one which he said will be executed in collaboration with the private sector.
“So we are seeing the houses that we have built, there’s enormous demand for it. And because of everybody now, professionals and in the work environment, there’s a high demand for the homes,” he said.
He added that to achieve 40,000 homes, the government will have to build a lot of that with the support of the private sector, even as he noted that there will also be the opportunity for others to build.

This was set out in the PPP/C’s 2025 manifesto, which noted that the party would focus heavily on the construction of new homes through the provision of direct assistance to build in the most vulnerable families.
It also notes that the plan will also focus on the accelerated construction of core homes and young professional homes, along with the continued provision of incentives to encourage affordable home construction.

This is all with the aim of constructing 40,000 new homes over the next five years, according to the manifesto.
Dr. Ali, during the interview, noted that the scale of this plan will inject hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy.
Meanwhile, the President said that the plan for expanded housing will also focus on transforming and regularising existing settlements, providing critical infrastructure such as roads, water and other essential services.

With this, he used the development along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, the building of 500 homes and the homesteads at Yarrowkabra, regularising housing and organising housing along the highway to ensure those persons receive essential services and titles to their homes.
To this end, Dr Ali said a plan is already in place as there is now a proper occupational survey with proper demarcation and the block planning is complete.
“So, it’s now moving into the final stage of letting people know which area, what and how we’re going to regularise them, but everybody will be in a housing setting that is of dignity and honour along the highway,” President Ali said.

Beyond the highway, he said that housing expansion will be rolled out nationwide, highlighting areas like Linden, Palmyra and Molsen Creek, among others.
“… Investing in the regions, Region One, Region Two, Region Nine, Region Eight. They all want settlement-style development,” he added.
To this end, Dr Ali noted that the groundwork has already been laid over the last five years, ensuring that the next phase of the housing expansion can move swiftly.
“A lot of work has been ongoing on this infrastructure layout for the next five years. So that is what you’ll see implemented at a rapid pace,” he affirmed.