The Director of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHAPA), Mr. Mark Richards, was invited to Cabinet to present an update on the Division’s ambitious plans to construct more than 400 homes across Antigua and Barbuda.
Mr. Richards reported that CHAPA is already mobilizing resources and personnel to begin construction in the Belmont area, where the first phase will deliver 27 starter homes. These homes will be built with reinforced concrete for durability and resilience and will be sold at one-third of the current market price, ensuring accessibility for lower- and middle-income families.
Simultaneously, preparations are underway for the construction of 76 homes in North Sound on a 10-acre parcel of land. To guide the rollout of this project, model homes have already been completed in Glanvilles, and additional amenities are being planned to support the surrounding communities.
The housing programme will also extend to other constituencies, with two- and three-bedroom starter homes earmarked for development in St. Paul, St. John’s Rural West, and St. Peter. These efforts form part of a wider strategy to expand affordable housing opportunities across the nation.
Over the past several years, the Gaston Browne administration has transformed the housing sector, overseeing the construction of thousands of affordable homes and placing homeownership within reach of many Antiguans and Barbudans for the first time. This new wave of projects continues that momentum, further strengthening the government’s commitment to housing as a pillar of social and economic development.
Mr. Richards also noted that while progress has been steady, the availability of skilled labour remains a major challenge. With greater access to construction workers, the pace of building could be accelerated significantly, allowing the government to meet the growing demand for affordable housing more quickly.
