Housing project faces occupancy delays but Sutherland anticipates October move
By Sheria Brathwaite
Not a single house at the Home Ownership Providing Energy (HOPE) housing project in Lancaster, St James has been occupied after the initiative was launched last year, Minister of Housing Dwight Sutherland revealed on Monday.
The delay in homeowners moving in is being blamed on utility issues and banking procedures.
Sutherland shared these challenges during a media briefing following a ceremony at Alleyne’s Court in White Park Road, St. Michael.
The HOPE Lancaster project officially opened on April 23, 2022, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and several ministers in attendance. At the time of the opening, there were 30 approved applicants, with the first two individuals selecting their housing spots on June 25 that same year.
Out of the 154 houses in Lancaster, Sutherland said 57 were ready for occupancy, but the delay in resolution of utility and banking issues was a hold-up.
“I am not here to criticise for criticising sake. I am here to send a message that we need to improve in those areas to give ordinary Barbadians the opportunity to own their own home in a respectable time frame,” Sutherland said.
“We’ve been having a bit of delay as a result of the conveyancing . . . . Most of the legal challenges are over but there are some challenges with the banking sector, some details that the banks are asking for, minor details, and that is what is holding up some of the issues with respect to persons moving in,” he said, adding that there were other banking issues. “For instance, if someone defaults on a payment, who accepts responsibility, how the responsibility will be shared? So these are some of the things that we are working out with the bank.”
Regarding the utility problem, Sutherland reported that progress had been made in addressing that.
“I would say the project has been delayed as a result of services – water, electricity – and also the conveyancing relating to banking policy and banking regulations; those were the three major issues. We have resolved two of them. The Barbados Light & Power issues and the water issues were resolved in the month of September.
“So we expect that these regulatory issues with the bank will be resolved this month and we expect persons to move into Lancaster, hopefully, in the month of October, if all goes well,” the housing minister said.
Sutherland highlighted the significant benefits of the HOPE project for homeowners, with the use of photovoltaic (PV) on the roof resulting in lower costs. He explained that homeowners would pay around $1 000 monthly for a three-bedroom house, with the solar PV system offsetting infrastructure and land costs.
As a result, the cost of these houses ranges from approximately $182 000 to $250 000, making them affordable for ordinary Barbadians, he argued.
The minister also provided updates on other housing projects across the island.
At Coconut Hall, St Lucy, 16 units will be constructed; in Sargeant’s Village, Christ Church, 20 units will be built; and 28 units and a small business centre are to be erected at Bullens, St James.
At Atlantic Breeze, Christ Church, 267 houses will be built in partnership with the Mark McConney-owned prefab construction firm Preconco. These units are to be built through the National Housing Corporation.
Regarding the HOPE Project, 92 houses are being built at Colleton, St Lucy, and in St John, 202 at Pool, 50 at Guinea and 154 at Todds.
About 120 acres have also been identified in Vineyard, St Philip for a housing development.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
