The National Housing Trust (NHT) has put on hold five projects valued at $1.3 billion, saying the difficult topography and infrastructure constraints made the development too costly.

The five projects are Eltham Farm, St Catherine, Rosemount 5 in St James, Ridge Estate in St Ann, Granville in Trelawny, and Cousins Cove in Hanover.

The Eltham Farm project, which comprises 44 solutions with a mix of two- and three-bedroom townhouses, is on hold until the National Water Commission rehabilitates the Eltham Farm Sewage Treatment Plant to which the new housing scheme would have to connect.

potable water

Ridge Estate has challenges in the availability of potable water supply and, said the NHT, there is also need to rehabilitate three kilometres of access road to the development.

Meanwhile, the Granville project, the agency said, needs substantial upgrading to the access road.

"The project cannot sustain the cost. Therefore, the implementation is pending the acquisition of lands adjacent to the project site in order to substantially reduce the cost per lot for the access-road rehabilitation," said the NHT via email to Sunday Business.

The Rosemount V project has been put on hold due to rocky terrain, which the agency said would make the infrastructure cost very high.

"The project is now being reviewed," said the NHT.

The Cousins Cove project is pending a site feasibility assessment and the result of a detailed demand-and-affordability survey.

The NHT said the projects are scheduled to recommence within the next two to three years.

"All have been rescheduled to commence in 2011-12, at which time it is anticipated that all issues affecting the commencement of the projects will be resolved," said the NHT.

The original completion dates were: Eltham Farm, April 2008; Granville, February 2009; Ridge Estate, December 2009; Rosemount, July 2010; and, Cousins Cove, December 2010.

dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com