Design for Silica City Phase Two moves ahead

The ambitious Silica City project is gaining momentum with construction of the first 110 houses progressing steadily. Additionally, design work for Phase Two of the project is already underway, paving the way for new investment opportunities.

Minister of Housing, Collin Croal said Phase Two which will focus on the diaspora unit, will introduce a different type of housing.

“The design, the construction to take place there will be different. Those will target more of the condo type of design,” Croal said at a site visit on Sunday.

He noted that the application process for this phase will be similar to the first, requiring applicants to be Guyanese and first-time homeowners to qualify.

With Phase Two taking shape, Phase One is well advanced, with all 110 houses, which consists of four designs, at different phases of construction. The houses are being built by seven contractors.

Croal said the area will soon reflect “what a modern area would look like,” adding that allocations have already commenced.

“Very shortly those who have been allocated would be able to sign for their agreement of sale,” he said.

Demand for elevated homes is outpacing expectations, even though 70 percent of the current construction consists of flat houses.

“There is a lot of demand, however, for the elevated type of houses. For construction, you know that takes a bit more time,” Croal said, adding that his ministry is examining construction costs in other aspects of this project to better meet the demand for elevated designs.

Croal also underscored that achieving the government’s housing targets requires both speed and strict oversight.

“Construction of houses will play a major role in fulfilling our target for this period,” he said.

To meet that goal, Croal said, the Ministry’s Project Department will be strengthened in the coming weeks.

“It’s a lot about monitoring. We have been receiving a lot of feedback from the work that is being done. So we want to also ensure that the quality is part of what we are delivering on,” he explained.

Over the next few weeks, the housing ministry will create an action sheet to track progress and identify issues early. “We don’t want when the houses complete then you have the beneficiaries complaining about the quality. This is something we should be picking up early,” Croal said.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn, described the visit as a familiarisation exercise for her to understand the work being done and help set targets aligned with the government’s vision.

“My intent is, whilst we look at the work that they have been doing so well for over the years, how do they broaden that scope,” Benn said.

She also emphasised the importance of sustainability and innovation in construction.

“We have to look at greening at spaces in which the houses are being constructed, a more comprehensive linkage with the forestry sector, the use of lesser used wood species in the construction.

“We don’t just think of kabukalli and greenheart but there are many other species that we can use that are beautiful, that kind of showcase the exotic woods that we have…you can have the use for those and provide more employment for people in the forestry sector, people within the joinery sector and so on,” Benn explained.

Further, she said her focus is also on ensuring that any defects reported in completed homes are addressed promptly.

The ministry is exploring ways to digitise the application system to improve efficiency and coordination among departments, particularly as it relates to the application process.

Silica City will ultimately unfold in three phases. The government has set aside some 3,800 acres of land for the project.

In addition to green areas and other facilities, the state-of-the-art development will include smart homes outfitted with the newest energy-saving technologies.