…as City looks to construct 1200 houses
Over the next 4 years, City of Windhoek anticipates the construction of 1200 houses under the Council’s Affordable Housing Programme at an estimated cost of N$868 million with which an anticipated 15000 employment opportunities will be created.
This was revealed by Windhoek Mayor, Sade Gawanas at the ground breaking ceremony for the project’s pilot project in which the City will construct eight model houses.
“During the construction of 346 affordable houses under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Affordable Housing Pilot Project, Council in partnership with Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, Khomas Regional Council, National Housing Enterprise, created 4500 employment opportunities for the residents of Windhoek at a cost of N$56 million.
“We anticipate a further 120 employment opportunities, during the construction of these eight show houses under Council’s Affordable Housing Programme,” Gawanas said.
The price ranges for the anticipated houses, inclusive of the erf are from N$850,000.00, (smallest erf size of 312m2) to N$1,2 million (largest erven size of 1022m2. In addition, the typologies for the houses to be constructed, are three (3) bedroomed houses with a dwelling size of 94m2, named Nguni and a dwelling size of 91m2, named Brahman.
“These prices are quite below the market value of similar properties in the same vicinity. The project budget amounts to a total of N$6,8 million which in my view, are public funds-well spent. I can only applaud Council for this noble undertaking.
“Today’s ceremony is testimony to Council’s commitment to exert all efforts to provide affordable accommodation to all residents and deliver on its developmental objectives, moving forward. Council also resolved to sell houses to first time buyers on the Waiting List for land. Thus, today’s event signals a different approach that aims to address the plight of housing in Windhoek in a holistic manner. Once the pilot project for the construction of the eight houses is successfully completed and handed over to the beneficiaries, all future houses to be constructed will be open to the public in line with the Affordable Housing Policy,” Gawanas extended.
In its quest to expedite the provision of housing in the City, Council (via Resolution 53/03/2019) resolved to enter the housing space through the construction and alienation of houses in what is today known as the Council Affordable Housing Programme.