THE ministry manages 48 development leases for the Informal Settlement Upgrading Program (ISUP), says Local Government and Housing Minister Maciu Nalumisa.
He told Parliament this week this consisted of 44 TLTB leases and four State leases.
“These leases cover 21 settlements in the Western Division, 14 in the Northern Division, and 13 in the Central Division,” Mr Nalumisa said.
“In this financial year 2024-2025, the ministry plans to issue leases for three key areas – Cuvu, Sigatoka 113 residential lots; Waidamudamu, Nausori 266 residential lots; and Ledrusasa, Nadi 76 residential lots.”
Mr Nalumisa said six ministry development leases — Sakoca, Tacirua (216 lots), Tavela (80 lots), Field 4 (115 lots), Tore (59 lots), and Valewaquayaya, Ba — were currently in the construction works phase and anticipated to be ready for issuance of title in the next financial year.
Mr Nalumisa said the Housing Ministry provided 235 grants through the First Home Ownership Initiative assistance policy to assist homebuyers in 2024.
“At the end of this financial year 2024-2025, the ministry would process a total of 925 lots and distribute 235 grants, aiming to provide homes for an estimated 1160 families in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 financial years. This is an addition to the 49 families who received offer letters for purchase from the Public Rental Board by late January.
“Together these efforts address more than 75 per cent of the total annual demand for new dwellings, estimated at 1600.”
The minister said there were currently 17 projects in the planning phase with nine projects currently at the engineering plan stage and 22 at the preliminary stage.”
