The Government is turning to prefabricated and modular construction as it moves to deliver its ambitious target of 40,000 houses, with the Housing Ministry saying traditional construction methods alone will not be sufficient to achieve the volume required.
Minister of Housing Collin Croal made the disclosure while appearing on the Guyana Dialogue, stating the Government is now moving into a major implementation phase of its housing programme, with three major contractors engaged to support construction of homes across various categories.
He explained that while local contractors will continue constructing homes, a different approach is necessary if the Government is to produce thousands of houses within the timeframe envisioned.
Croal said the use of prefabricated and modular housing will allow the Government to increase the pace and volume of construction while responding to demand from applicants across the country.
“We want to do thousands. And the way to do that, you have to do prefab,” he said.
“You must do prefab or modular type houses to be able to get the volume,” Croal added.
According to him, the Government has already engaged three major contractors for the programme, with agreements signed with two of them to commence construction.
The contractors are expected to supply houses across the various categories being offered under the Government’s housing initiative.
The move towards prefabricated construction forms part of the administration’s wider commitment to constructing 40,000 houses, announced alongside its plans to address the existing backlog of persons waiting for housing opportunities.
Croal said the Government has already received expressions of interest from contractors and is now preparing the systems needed to connect screened applicants with builders.
Croal said the Government is also developing a housing portal through which screened applicants will be able to access information on approved contractors and available housing options in their respective regions.
The initiative is expected to form part of a wider system to help prospective homeowners navigate the construction and financing process, including engagement with commercial banks and other financial institutions.
The system is expected to allow applicants to engage contractors directly, select from the various housing options available and explore financing through commercial banks and other financial institutions.
Croal said the Government is also seeking to ensure that the housing programme caters to different income groups rather than focusing exclusively on one category of homeowner.
These include low-income, middle-income and higher-end housing, as well as housing for young professionals and townhouse developments.
At the same time, a dedicated social housing programme is being prepared for persons considered extremely vulnerable.
Croal said the programme will establish parameters to determine which applicants fall within the category and qualify for assistance.
The Government is also piloting a foundation programme designed to make it easier for persons to access prefabricated homes.
Under the model, homeowners can obtain assistance with the construction of their foundations and subsequently have a prefab house placed on the completed structure.
The initiative is being piloted in Leonora and Meten-Meer-Zorg, with Croal stating the initiative has already received positive responses.
The project team is currently engaging suppliers for the materials needed to cast the concrete foundations on which the prefabricated homes will be installed.
After that, Croal addressed the wider rollout of the 40,000-home programme, explaining why the public has not yet seen a major increase in construction.
