$9b Earmarked for Increased Provision of Housing Solutions under the Urban Renewal Programme

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced that $9 billion is earmarked under the revitalised Urban Renewal Programme to increase the output of low-income housing solutions.

“The National Housing Trust (NHT) is now in a position to increase the output of low-income solutions under the Urban Renewal Programme and will commit an initial $9 billion in 2024/25, with additional annual allocations going forward,” he informed during his contribution to the 2024/25 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives recently.

Mr. Holness pointed out that the programme will be rolled out beyond Kingston and St. Andrew, citing areas such as Russia and Grange Hill in Westmoreland; May Pen, Clarendon; Norwood/Glendevon and Flankers, St. James; and parts of Spanish Town, St. Catherine, among the beneficiary communities under consideration.

He said communities within the Corporate Area under consideration include Barbican Road/Liguanea, Cassia Park, Cassava Piece, and sections of Red Hills Road.

Mr. Holness pointed out that the programme model and types of solutions provided under the NHT’s Urban Renewal Programme have evolved from its predecessor, the Inner City Housing Programme.

“The Trust is now producing mainly low-rise single and multi-family units with open space, a design change that has addressed some of the issues identified with previous programmes,” he said.