Land problems hold back social housing applications

ABOUT 1,080 single-unit applications have been made under the New Social Housing Programme since its inception, but only 390 have been approved, with land tenure issues, incomplete applications and unsuitable land among the factors holding back applications.

Richard Cargill, head of the New Social Housing Programme under the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, told the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) on Wednesday that the programme had also received 45 applications for tenement units, with the approvals being determined by the Project Oversight Committee.

Cargill said the difference between the number of applications received and those approved was largely linked to problems with the land on which applicants proposed to build.