Affordable housing promised five years ago may not be completed until next year, Housing Minister David Burch has revealed.

Harbour View Village homes in Southside, St. David's were awarded to lottery winners in 2005.

Hurdles followed, however in March Government pledged the project would be completed by September.

At yesterday's Senate meeting Minister Burch said that while phase one of the project could be done this year, it would not be completed until next December.

In response to questions from Opposition Senator Suzann Roberts-Holshouser, Minister Burch said: "The current projected final completion date for the Harbour View Village capital project is December 2011.

"The costs to date are $24.7 million and the current projected total costs for completion of the Harbour View Village capital project is $38.5 million."

The Ministry later refused to tell this newspaper how many homes would be included in the first phase and how many families, if any, could expect to move in this year.

Lottery winners Michael and Rosalie Aubrey were one of 98 families promised two-, three- and four-bedroom homes starting at $199,000 in June of 2005.

Yesterday Mrs. Aubrey said she felt let down by news of another potential delay.

Mrs. Aubrey said: "I think it is disappointing because we thought it was going to be finished [before that].

"I know it is really going to hurt my husband and everything but it hurts me too."

Mr. Aubrey, 62, said he understood the delay and believed it could have something to do with the recovering economy.

In Senate Chambers yesterday, Minister Burch said Harbour View Village was one of a string of Government housing developments in their final stages.

The Loughlands development in Paget, which offers affordable homes on a phased-in basis, is said to be in its final stages.

Another housing project on Perimeter Lane in Pembroke finished on Tuesday.

The Perimeter Lane property can accommodate 38 families in one-, two- and three-bedroom homes.

The units were designed to give a 'hand up' to tenants of the Bermuda Housing Corporation, the Minister explained. Rent will be based on 25 percent of the residents' combined income along with a mandatory ten percent savings plan, called the rent-geared-to-income initiative (RGI).

Government officials toured the property on Tuesday.

Said Premier Ewart Brown: "This is a fine example of how the Government has delivered on its promise to ensure affordable and adequate housing for Bermudians.

"Looking at these units, you can see that they are very impressive, and we are very pleased that we could provide a dwelling of this calibre for the new community who will soon be living here."

Minister Burch added: "This demonstrates tangible proof that we are working to assist Bermudian families in gaining their footing in this challenging financial climate.

"We are very pleased with the completion of this latest development because it means that 38 new families will have a roof over their heads."

The first families are expected to begin moving into the Perimeter Lane housing development sometime in mid-July.