The National Housing Development Trust has submitted nine planning applications for modern, affordable homes to be constructed in a colourful housing estate in East End.
If the Central Planning Authority grants approval, the properties will be built on Marvelle McLaughlin Drive and Will Jackson Drive, just to the north of East End Primary School.
Since 2020, when construction started on what will eventually be a 50-house development, a total of 23 houses have been built at East End Gardens.
In its recent planning proposals, the trust is seeking variances of up to six feet in the setback for all nine buildings.
It argued that “there is sufficient reason to grant a variance and an exceptional circumstance exists”.
The trust added that the features of the proposed developments are consistent with the character of the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment, in its analysis under delegated authority from the National Conservation Council, expressed concern about the existing habitats.
Some of the proposed homes are on plots of land that contain dry shrub-land and dry woodland, while other plots were pre-emptively cleared, destroying all of the habitat.
The department stressed it “does not support speculative clearing” and said applications should be made for land clearing so mitigation measures can be recommended.
“Clearing the site prematurely takes away the opportunity for the Department of Environment to make meaningful comments.
“It also removes the choice to retain native vegetation for use within the future development,” it said.
The department added that in these cases, there is now no opportunity for the future residents of the proposed houses to retain native vegetation.
“Native plants are best suited for the conditions of the site, including the temperature and amount of rainfall,” the environment department said.
“They are climate-appropriate and require less maintenance and irrigation.”
It said retaining native vegetation is especially important for affordable housing developments as it is free, low-maintenance landscaping provided by the environment.
“Landscaping with native vegetation also provides ecological benefits by creating habitat and food for native fauna such as birds and butterflies, promoting biodiversity and providing valuable ecosystem services,” it said.
The Central Planning Authority considered the applications in its 3 Jan. meeting and will publish the decision in its minutes in about three weeks.
A long waiting list
The National Housing Development Trust is a government-owned company under the portfolio of the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure.
Its function is to provide quality affordable housing in planned communities to families across Grand Cayman.
It also offers financing opportunities for first-time homeowners with low or middle incomes.
In 2021, National Housing Development Trust general manager Julio Ramos told the Compass that 400 people were on the waiting list for affordable housing.
At the time he said: “We have individuals that have been waiting for two to three years.”
The trust’s other developments include Apple Blossom Gardens in West Bay, Windsor Park in George Town, Belford Estates in Bodden Town and Ottos Avenue in North Side.
To apply for an affordable home, applicants must hold Caymanian status, reside in the Cayman Islands and not earn more than $6,000 a month or $72,000 a year.
They must be in the age bracket required for repaying a mortgage and employed for at least six months or self-employed for two years.
The home being purchased must be the applicant’s primary residence and they must live there.
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