Calling all architects. Bring your drawings and come. Government needs your ideas and imagination.Minister of Housing and Lands Michael Lashley yesterday said he remained open to seeing the work of local architects as Government started its quest to produce 15 000 starter houses in the next 12 months.“I’m open to seeing any drawings our architects can produce which would aid in the designs of any local houses we plan to build,” Lashley said after touring the latest Housing Every Last Person (HELP) Project in Forde’s Road, St. Michael, where 16 rental duplex units are being built.
In revealing the option for local architects to become involved in providing possible designs for the starter-home project, Lashley said the National Housing Corporation would soon be building two model houses and placing them in Woodbourne, St Philip, for viewing by the public. But although those designs had been accepted, they could easily be changed or improved, with the help of Barbadian architects.The minister added that the price of the starter homes would range between $70 000 and $100 000, since it was that range which had produced the greatest demand for housing over the past two and a half years of the Democratic Labour Party’s tenure in Government.According to Lashley, Government would also be assisting the country’s construction sector, since 24 local small contractors would be used for the starter-homes. Tenders for those contractors should be out within the next three months.“We have great confidence in the small contractors of Barbados, and that is why we want them to be involved as part of the country’s capital works programme,” Lashley told reporters at Forde’s Road. “What we plan is when the contractors are chosen, the National Housing Corporation will provide any and all technical assistance necessary.”Lashley said the project had been approved by Cabinet, and a full paper would be brought to Parliament shortly so it could get off the ground as soon as possible.The first starter-homes will be constructed at Parish Land and River in St. Philip, and Lancaster 1 and 2 in St James. One hundred and twenty houses will go up in Parish Land, 20 in River and 80 in the two Lancaster areas. Government will be using $10 million in the first instance, a portion of a $40 million loan from First Caribbean Bank, to finance the starter homes.Along with the starter projects, Government will continue, also as part of HELP, to construct rent-to-own and rental units. “We plan to look at other areas where Crown lands can be utilised in urban areas like Forde’s Road and Tweedside Road to further satisfy those persons who are in the lower income bracket,” Lashley stressed.“This is the way forward. We expect the houses for lower income earners to be very liveable, and still affordable,” the minister concluded.
