Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica – Prime Minister Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness has commended the National Housing Trust (NHT) for its historic performance in expanding housing access across Jamaica, citing that over the last nine years the NHT has invested $343 billion in housing, the largest in Jamaica’s history.
The Prime Minister was speaking on Friday, July 18, 2025, at the official groundbreaking ceremony for Chantilly Gardens, a new 120-unit development located just outside Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland. The development is being delivered by the NHT in partnership with Grange Solutions Limited under the Guaranteed Purchase Programme, GPP.
Prime Minister Holness in delivering the keynote address said the agency’s broader strategy to increase the supply of affordable and sustainable housing solutions across Jamaica is bearing fruit.
“Since 2016, the NHT has written more than 67,000 mortgages, and completed over 21,000 homes with investments totalling $343 billion, the largest housing expenditure in Jamaica’s history,” said the Prime Minister.
He noted that the NHT is on track to surpass its commitment to 43,000 housing solutions and commended the agency for strategically pairing financial empowerment through increased loan limits and grants with an increase in construction.
“There are more than 10,360 units currently being constructed, over 10,320 in the planning stage, 6,750 in the contract phase, 12,515 in procurement combined with the NHT’s other building initiative, means there are 41,738 houses currently under construction.”
Additionally, since 2021, the NHT has completed 8,330 houses…” advised Mr Holness. Bringing the NHT’s construction programme to well over 50,000.
NHT Chairman Linval Freeman echoed Mr. Holness’s sentiments, noting that Chantilly Gardens is the fifth groundbreaking ceremony hosted by the NHT since the start of 2025 and the third in Western Jamaica.
“We’ve broken ground for nearly 6,000 housing solutions so far this year, and we are doing it through strategic partnerships with developers like Grange Solutions. Chantilly Gardens is not just a housing project, it is a promise of opportunity, dignity, and stability for working Jamaican families,” the Chairman said.
He also indicated that the NHT is ramping up its housing delivery along urban corridors through the Small Developers Programme. This program is designed to empower individuals and small-scale developers to collaborate with the NHT in delivering affordable, quality housing solutions.
Director of Grange Solutions Limited Junior Levine described the Guaranteed Purchase Programme as a game-changing model for housing delivery.
“The GPP is a powerful and pioneering tool for bridging the gap between the demand for housing and the supply of homes. It’s a key component of national development and should be encouraged and expanded,” he said.
“At Grange Solutions, we believe Jamaicans deserve homes that are not only affordable but also stylish and modern and Chantilly Gardens reflects that vision,” shared Mr. Levine.
Once completed, Chantilly Gardens will feature 120 two-bedroom, one-bathroom homes on a 19.5-acre site, with lot sizes ranging from 3,500 to 4,736 square feet. The community will include paved roads, sewerage and water infrastructure, storm water drainage, and dedicated green spaces.
Meanwhile, as part of the ceremony, ten pensioners from Westmoreland were officially presented with SMART Energy Grants, each valued at up to $1.5 million. These grants, part of the NHT’s climate resilience initiatives, allows retirees to install solar energy systems to reduce household costs and promote sustainable living. A total of 30 beneficiaries are expected to benefit per parish, totalling 420 grants for the year.