Affordable housing was left out of this year’s Budget despite “a number of projects lined up and ready to go”, the public works minister said yesterday.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch added: “It’s a question of money.”

He was speaking after the Bermuda Housing Corporation, which manages 594 Government and private homes across the island, was given a grant of $6 million – the same as last year in the 2021/22 Budget.

Colonel Burch said there were housing proposals ready to go for review by the finance ministry if the Government’s economic stimulus plans went into a “phase two”.

He added: “This is a real, significant irritation to both the board of the housing corporation and myself, in that we have not been able for about eight years now, since 2011-12, produce any new units, while there are still people looking for units.

“So we’re looking at creative ways to come up with funding to get some of those projects across the finish line.”