Future homes constructed under the HAPI programme are expected to use steel frames and cement-based boards instead of conventional timber construction.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the change is intended to produce more durable houses for vulnerable families and improve the lifespan of the Government’s housing investment.

According to Browne, Social and Urban Transformation Minister Rawdon Turner identified a Chinese factory producing the concrete-based boards during a recent visit. The Government hopes to import the building systems shortly.

The announcement followed discussion of a newly completed eight-bedroom, four-bathroom HAPI property for a family of 29.

Browne said the larger project illustrated both the social importance and the significant cost of the programme. Moving to steel frames and cement boards is expected to strengthen future units, particularly in a country exposed to harsh weather and hurricanes.