– $2B first phase nearly complete; Phase Two works advancing

ALLOTTEES of the new Wismar Housing Development, Phase One, in Region Ten, will soon be able to visit and identify their house lots, according to Minister of Housing, Collin Croal.
The Minister made the announcement on Wednesday during a site visit to the development alongside Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn.
The visiting team also included Regional Housing Officer, Ms. Leticia Drakes; Head of Enforcement, Mr. Nigel Hoppie; Community Development Director, Mr. Gladwin Charles; Senior Surveyor, Mr. Shaquille Mayers; and other engineers and technical officers from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA).
Minister Croal noted that Phase One infrastructural works were largely completed, while land clearing has commenced for Phase Two. The purpose of the visit, he said, was to assess the quality and pace of the ongoing works and to familiarise Minister Benn with the development as the Ministry prepares for the next stage.
“In another week, we will begin showing persons their lots,” Minister Croal confirmed. “By the end of November, all allottees can rest assured that they will be able to physically identify and see the specific lots allocated to them.”
Earlier this year, the Ministry held allocation exercises that significantly reduced the backlog of housing applications in Region Ten. Minister Croal reaffirmed that the government is committed to helping beneficiaries move swiftly from allocation to homeownership.
Phase One of the Wismar Housing Development represents an investment of nearly $2 billion, while Phase Two is valued at approximately $3.5 billion. With land clearing already underway, contractors have been mobilised and timelines established for the completion of infrastructural works.
“There is a completion target of May 2026, but we have engaged adequate contractors because we want to finish ahead of schedule,” Minister Croal stated. He also noted that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, will soon convene a meeting with all housing contractors to ensure efficiency and quality delivery across all projects.
Minister Croal further underscored the administration’s commitment to building 40,000 homes nationwide, with Region Ten identified as a key beneficiary of this national housing drive.
“We want a strong push for homeownership. That is the bottom line,” he said. “We are working to remove the stress and obstacles that families often face when building on their own. The goal is to create a system where people can own and occupy their homes more easily and quickly.”
Minister Benn, meanwhile, used the opportunity to encourage contractors to adhere to deadlines and maintain high standards to ensure that allottees gain access to their lots as planned.
The Ministry of Housing and Water, through the CHPA, will continue its technical assessments, planning, and stakeholder engagements to facilitate the start of home construction at the new Wismar Housing Development in the coming months.