The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government will be accelerating plans in its second term to create new housing areas, specifically expanding the programme to meet a new benchmark of 40,000 homes. This is according to Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn.
Appearing on the Starting Point podcast, Minister Benn said the ministry’s first task is identifying available lands across the country where new housing areas will be developed. She acknowledged that many persons applied years ago but were not awarded house lots, even though the government delivered over 50,000 in the previous term. Special attention, she noted, will be placed on clearing this backlog while also preparing for new applicants during the current term.
“Those young professionals and single mothers and so on who are going to be allocated in this new thrust, the intent is to ensure that these are spaces and places and environment, that as a country it is reflective of the vision that our government has,” she said.
Benn stressed that creating new housing areas is tied directly to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. The aim, she said, is not only to provide homes but also to promote sustainable livelihoods, proper waste management systems, and environmental protection during the execution of creating new housing areas. As one of the new faces in Cabinet, she highlighted that she brings both her political background and her environmental perspective to the team.
Other Services
Turning to other services offered by the ministry, Benn urged citizens to make use of the ministry’s online platform, even as the government works towards the full roll-out of the Single-Window System to further improve efficiency.
She explained that the ministry has already begun digitising the housing process, moving away from the paper-based system.
“There is an online portal through which persons can submit their applications for house lots, for homes and so on, and we are working to get the entire single-window process fully operational,” she said.
However, she admitted that too many citizens still line up daily at the ministry’s office. “I am crushed, you know, every day I come in and see so many people waiting, but it’s not only because the single-window system is not fully activated as yet,” she said.
The Single-Window System provides a single point of entry for all planning and development applications, allowing applicants to submit, monitor, and track progress. It is designed to streamline the building-permission process and cut through bureaucratic hurdles.
Benn said she expects the system to be fully rolled out soon, making the delivery of housing services more efficient. While she admitted that there is still some work to be done, she noted that discussions with other government agencies have already begun to ensure readiness, including at the local government level.
She said that the real test of the system will be ensuring agencies and staff have the capacity to operate it smoothly. “It’s good to talk about how we establish and enhance our digital infrastructure, but to ensure that all the parts along this chain are in place and the people have the capability and capacity to make it work and for it to work efficiently,” she said.
For now, Benn said citizens can save valuable time by utilising the online platform rather than visiting the ministry in person. She also hinted at additional measures to be introduced to further assist the public.