One of the largest-ever affordable housing developments was launched on Friday, with the lands of the former Vineyard plantation in St Philip being converted from growing crops to 1 100 homes in a public-private partnership to build affordable housing.

The joint venture between the National Housing Corporation and Vineyard Development Inc., led by veteran construction magnate Bjorn Bjerkhamn, is designed as a planned community to expand affordable homeownership.

The development surrounding the last vestige of the plantation, the 300-year old Pollards Mill, will feature approximately 1 100 homes built across six stages over the next five to six years, with initial prices for house-and-land packages starting at $170 000.