Four rental units were unveiled in St David’s yesterday by the Government as part of its effort to address housing shortages.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, said the three studios and a two-bedroom apartment marked the completion of Phase 1 of the Battery Road development project.

He added that an 82,000-gallon water tank was also built as part of the scheme.

Colonel Burch said the first phase of the project cost about $896,000.

“This phase adds valuable units to our housing stock and marks the successful completion of projects under the economic stimulus programme,” he said.

Phase two of the project, which falls under the Government’s residential building programme, was continuing at the site.

Colonel Burch said that another 13 units – including apartments of one and two bedrooms as well as studios – will be built in the second phase.

“Adding these units is another important step towards addressing the growing demand for affordable housing in Bermuda,” he added.

Colonel Burch highlighted that the Bermuda Housing Corporation waiting list had 187 applicants.

At a short ceremony to mark the unveiling, the minister said work started at the Battery Road project in March 2018.

He added that the BHC later designed 17 dwelling units and a bypass route for a nearby nursery under a “holistic approach to community development”.

Despite several challenges including termite infestation, “unforeseen hurdles” associated with the pandemic and subsequent supply-chain issues, Colonel Burch said “our resolve has never faltered”.

The minister added that the Government and the BHC “remain steadfast in our pledge to tackle the housing shortage head-on”.

Colonel Burch said: “Our objective is to fast-track the creation of the affordable housing stock, leveraging ongoing initiatives to expand the private sector rental programme.

“To further this aim, the BHC has launched a comprehensive strategy to partner with private sector owners to renovate their units.

“These units will be added to our housing stock for a specific period of time to recuperate the investment before ultimately handing them back to their original owners, thereby accelerating the provision of affordable housing solutions across Bermuda without having to build new units.”

He added that the Government was in “detailed discussions” with 15 owners to renovate their properties.

The minister said that anyone who wished to be a part of the programme can contact the BHC.

David Burt told people at the ribbon-cutting event that the Government has worked to address the island’s housing shortage.

He said: “Out on the doorstep and in our community, you have told us that Bermudians need more affordable housing you told us the struggles faced trying to find places to live and the instability and unhappiness that it may create inside of your families and this Government has listened.”

The Premier said that in 2020, the Progressive Labour Party pledged to “increase the number of available, affordable housing units throughout the island and make it easier for Bermudians to get on the property ladder”.

He said in 2022, the PLP Government pumped $15 million into the BHC to bring more affordable housing units online.

“Since the announcement of that investment, the people of Bermuda have seen 67 additional affordable units throughout the island,” Mr Burt noted.

The Premier said: “However, we understood there was more work to be done, more investment would be required to address our island’s housing shortage and provide more affordable housing units for Bermudians.”

He highlighted that in the Budget this year, the Government allocated $10 million to the BHC “to increase the speed of the delivery of affordable housing units and to expand the private sector rental programme to provide even more housing options”.

Mr Burt added: “While this is a significant milestone, we know that for the many Bermudians still looking for an affordable place to stay, this news probably doesn’t mean much today amid your own personal struggle.

“To you I say more units are on the way, here at Battery Road and also at many other projects which are taking place throughout the island.”