Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has noted that expanding access to land and housing is not only a matter of fairness, it’s also a critical driver of economic growth, stability and national development.

He was speaking at the handing over ceremony for serviced lots at the Cherry Gardens housing development in Kitson Town, St. Catherine.

Contributors to the National Housing Trust (NHT) received 34 lots.

The development is part of a wider development of lots under a partnership between the NHT and private developers, through the interim finance programme.

Dr. Holness said each lot represents more than just land ownership.

He said the Cherry Gardens development was selected due to its strategic location between Spanish Town and Kitson Town.

He explained that the government’s housing policy goes beyond simply increasing the number of available units.

The focus is on delivering well-planned developments that can sustain long-term social and economic activity.

Under the programme, the NHT provides developers with financing of up to 100% of construction costs at concessionary interest rates.

Developers are required to pass on these benefits to purchasers through reduced prices, ensuring that affordability remains central.

The lots at Cherry Gardens are priced between $3.1m and $6.4m.