Work on Haven Housing Development in Central Kingston set to commence on Monday August 11

Work will begin on Monday,  August 11, 2025, for the construction of units on the Haven Housing Development Tenement Upgrade Project, at 41 – 43 Hanover Street in Central Kingston.

This was announced yesterday (August 7, 2025), by Prime Minister Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, at the contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony for the commencement of work on the project, under the New Social Housing Programme (NSHP).

In his address, Prime Minister Holness noted that the development is an important milestone for Central Kingston, adding that the area needs significant intervention.

“As you go through central Kingston and are looking at the attempts at social housing  and are looking at the urban blight that has affected the community, you realize that there must be a significant and instrumental intervention in recovering the value that is here… You have roads that are already scribed out, paved, some areas have sewage, you already have water mains and electricity.  All that is needed is to upgrade the houses and properly define and restore some system of ownership” he stated.

The Prime Minister further stated that it is the Government’s intention to undertake a “massive urban renewal and regeneration programme in communities like Central Kingston”.

Prime Minister Holness added that historically because of the high volume of occupants in the area, consideration has to be given to mixed-use  and high-density development.

“In addition to building the houses, we are also going to put in one commercial space, so we will put in a shop space with frontage…but it is giving you some insight into how we are going to move along this pathway of renewing our urban areas. We are taking into consideration the social and economic context within which the people live, so we are not just coming here to build a house.   There is significant consultation and study. We pay attention to the history and the culture”, he noted.

The Haven Housing Development is being undertaken by contractor, Yardworks Construction Company Limited,  at a cost of approximately J$189 Million under  Modality Three (3) of the New Social Housing Programme,  the  Upgrade of Tenement (Big Yards). The Haven Housing Development is the 8th contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony for units to be constructed under this modality.

When completed in 12 months, eighty-three (83) residents including 38 children, will benefit from the development which will consist of 21 Housing Units  comprising three studios,  one (1) one-bedroom; six  (6) 2-bedroom and eleven (11) 3 -bedroom units.

To date, a total of three hundred (300) housing units have been completed under the NSHP, benefitting over 1,082 individuals, across fifty-seven (57) of the sixty-three (63) constituencies.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Holness also handed over 4 units, under Modality one of the NSHP, the provision of indigent housing, to beneficiaries at:

• 33 Victoria Avenue
• 33  Maiden Lane
• 40 Rosemary Lane an
• 39 Georges Lane, all in Central Kingston.