Matthew: Housing in Rural South Needs Mix of Home Repairs and Redevelopment

Housing remains one of the most pressing challenges in St John’s Rural South due to the absence of available government land, ABLP candidate and Education Minister Daryll Matthew said during an interview on ABS Television’s “Know Your Candidates” programme.

Matthew said the urban constituency faces unique constraints that make traditional housing development difficult.

“St John’s Rural South… has a single phenomenon in that there is no vacant government lands in these areas,” he said, explaining that most properties are privately owned, tightly packed and, in many cases, in poor condition.

“Very dense, very small, and in a lot of cases, dilapidated,” he added.

As a result, Matthew said efforts have focused on improving existing housing stock rather than building new communities. He pointed to the government’s HAPI programme, which provides materials to assist homeowners with repairs.

“We have been able to benefit from the HAPI program… where persons can repair their properties… to improve the quality of their living conditions,” he said.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to remove abandoned structures, noting, “We have been doing quite a few demolitions of derelict properties.”

Looking ahead, Matthew said one option under consideration is higher-density residential development to make better use of limited space.

“We have been searching to try to identify some areas… where we could perhaps… build a condominium-style housing in St John’s Rural South,” he said.

He added that the government is also examining ways to bring long-abandoned properties back into circulation.

“Properties that have been abandoned for several decades… can be identified, cleared, and put back into the open market,” Matthew said.

However, he acknowledged a challenge in retaining residents within the constituency when housing opportunities arise elsewhere.

“As they get access to land, they move out of the constituency,” he said.

Matthew said addressing housing in the area will require a combination of home improvement programmes, redevelopment of existing sites and more efficient land use, given the constraints of the densely populated constituency.

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