The State-owned Housing Authority aims to provide homes to 5000 families over the next three to five years, it has been revealed.

This is part of the authority’s design and build programme, which it is reactivating as it intends to carry out major development projects beginning this year.

The design and build programme was suspended in 1996 and will now resumed as the authority refocuses on its core function of developing land and building homes, particularly for low-income earners.

Housing Authority board chairman Samuela Saumatua said: “Housing Authority will be undertaking major development projects soon to produce fully serviced lots and build new homes for its customers, particularly for the middle to low income earners including squatters”.

He said the project would involve two major phases of Land development and House construction.

He said the authority would develop 273 acres over three sites, that is, Tacirua East (Stage 2), Nepani and Wainibuku in Nasinu. He said the contract for this was expected to be signed and work to start within three months.

He added the house construction phase would comprise construction of single and multi storey one, two and three bedroom units to commence next year.

Saumatua said the Public Rental Board would construct 250 units this year at its Raiwai site in Suva.

He said the tenders were currently being evaluated.

“2000 families would be housed on completion of the above land and housing development projects. This would comprise of 1400 lots for single houses and multi-storey flats with approximately 600 units depending on the product mix determined,” Saumatua said.