Mr. Speaker,

I rise today to provide clarity for this Honourable House and for the people of Bermuda regarding recent media reporting surrounding the Battery Road Development, and to offer a broader update on the significant progress being made by this Government’s housing initiatives.

This Government continues to give the highest priority to the development of affordable housing for Bermudians. As promised in our platform and embedded in our Throne Speech initiatives, the expansion of Bermuda’s housing supply is essential to our island’s long-term social stability and its future economic fortunes. As such the Government will work tirelessly to deliver for our people.

Mr. Speaker, On Thursday, 27 November of this year I had the pleasure of announcing the continued advancement at Battery Road, a project that forms part of this Government’s commitment to expanding high-quality, affordable housing for Bermudians. Unfortunately, the very next day, our daily newspaper, the Royal Gazette and editor Mr. Dexter Smith, issued a very misleading headline regarding the Battery Road project.  The daily suggested that the apartments under construction were modular homes. Mr. Speaker, this information is incorrect, and it is important to set the record straight.

Battery Road is being constructed using traditional Bermuda building methods. The units at this site are permanent, long-term homes designed to provide secure, durable housing for Bermudian families. Phase Two of the development will deliver a 9,400 square-foot residential building consisting of twelve modern units: six studios, four two-bedroom apartments, and two one-bedroom units. With a construction value of $3.75 million, this represents a substantial investment in the revitalization of St. David’s. I again acknowledge Ocean Interiors, the General Contractor, for their continued work on this project. Phase Two is scheduled for  completion in August 2026.

While I am unclear on how they could even arrive at printing such ambiguous information, I cannot help but think it was deliberate and with maligning intent because during the press conference, I never implied that these homes would be constructed with anything other than our traditional Bermuda building methods.

The BHC Residential Building Programme – Active Construction Across the Island

Mr. Speaker, Battery Road is one project within a much larger programme of construction and refurbishment now underway. Battery Road is not an isolated development. It is, in fact, now the fifth major public housing construction project for which I have recently provided public updates, alongside the Bermudiana Beach Residences, Harmony Hall in Paget, Chelsea Apartments in St Georges, and the Middletown Apartments redevelopment in Pembroke. 

These initiatives are rooted in a long-term framework supported by the Bermuda Housing Corporation and aligned with the Affordable Housing Strategy for 2025–2035 currently being developed. 

Mr. Speaker, substantial work will continue under the Bermuda Housing Corporation’s Residential Building Programme. I look forward to welcoming new tenants at Harmony Terrace North in Paget, Battery Road Phase Two in St. David’s, the Chelsea Apartments in St. George’s, and the Middletown redevelopment in Pembroke in the coming months. Together, these developments will deliver more than forty eight new affordable units by late 2026.

Distinction between modular and permanent housing

Now, Mr. Speaker, I wish to directly address the distinction between traditional construction and modular housing, as this has been the source of recent confusion. Permanent developments such as Battery Road, Harmony Terrace in Paget, the Chelsea Apartments, Middletown, and other similar sites are all being built with traditional or hybrid construction systems, designed for long-term occupation. Modular housing, on the other hand, will be  used only in a highly targeted manner to address urgent and transitional housing needs.

As part of the Emergency Modular Housing Programme, which we are currently developing, the Government will deploy a limited number of  “capsules” and other types of modular units, on suitable land owned by the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) and the Bermuda Land Management Company (BLMC). These units are designed for short-term rentals, generally between six and eighteen months, while Bermudians in crisis transition toward permanent housing solutions. 

These will meet Bermuda’s building and safety standards and will be supported by wraparound services such as case management and social service referrals. Modular housing is therefore a bridge, one tool in a broader toolkit, and not a replacement for permanent developments like Battery Road.

What’s Coming Next, The Affordable Housing Strategy and Future Delivery

Mr. Speaker, the Government’s work in housing is accelerating. The draft Affordable Housing Strategy 2025–2035, now nearing completion, will establish Bermuda’s a long-term housing framework. This Strategy will guide the delivery of a steady supply of new or rehabilitated homes over the next decade. It will look to include modernisation of Bermuda’s housing legislation, redevelopment of aging BHC and BLMC housing, expansion of modular and hybrid construction methods, improved pathways for seniors and persons with disabilities, increased supply of compact units, and new mechanisms to support families, young workers, and first-time renters.

The Strategy will also outline financing models, policy reforms, and partnerships needed to sustain long-term housing growth and improve affordability. A consultation draft will be presented to Cabinet shortly. This plan represents the next major chapter in transforming Bermuda’s housing landscape.

Mr. Speaker, as I have stated in my previous Housing Ministerial Statements, I assure the public that further updates will be brought to this Honourable House as additional phases of our Affordable Housing Programme advance. These will include new Fiscal Year 2026–27 development sites, expanded modular housing pilots, redevelopment of older BHC estates, increased housing supply for seniors and vulnerable households, rental affordability initiatives, and strengthened pathways for young people and working families seeking stable, secure accommodation.

Housing remains a central priority for this Government. Across Bermuda, from St. George’s to Sandys, new homes are rising, older units are being restored, and transitional supports are being strengthened to meet the needs of our people.

Conclusion 

Mr. Speaker, I wish to be absolutely clear, the permanent homes being built at Battery Road are not modular or container-based. They are built to last, to be occupied long-term, and to offer secure and affordable housing to Bermudians in need. At the same time, the Government is responsibly exploring modular and  expandable container based units for transitional housing purposes. These two strands of work serve different purposes, and it is essential that the public not confuse the two.

For further information, members of the public are encouraged to contact the Bermuda Housing Corporation directly, where staff stand ready to assist with inquiries, applications, and details regarding current and upcoming programmes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.