Column: Senator Bell On Housing & More
[Opinion column written by PLP Senator Lauren Hayward Bell]
Bermuda’s housing crisis is one of the most urgent challenges facing our people. Across the Island, families, seniors, and young Bermudians continue to struggle to find safe, affordable places to live. In the private rental market, affordable options remain scarce and the pace of new construction has slowed. A decade ago, Bermuda was adding nearly two hundred and ninety [290] homes a year to the housing stock. That number has now dropped to just seventy-five [75].
That is why the Government’s work at Battery Park is so important; it shows what real, practical progress looks like.
Battery Park began as a commitment to transform underused land in St. David’s into modern, affordable homes for those who need them most. Phase One delivered four [4] new units and major infrastructure upgrades, including an 82,000-gallon water tank to support long-term sustainability. Families have already moved into these units, and their lives are more stable as a result.
Phase Two is now underway, bringing an additional twelve [12] homes including six [6] studios, two [2] one-bedrooms units, and four [4] two-bedrooms units. Supported by a $3.75 million investment, these units will be offered to Bermudians on the Bermuda Housing Corporation’s waitlist, ensuring help reaches those facing the greatest need.
Facing the Crisis, Delivering Solutions
But Battery Park is not an isolated initiative; it is only one part of a much larger, coordinated plan to expand affordable housing across Bermuda.
Through the Residential Building Programme, more than sixty [60] new affordable homes will come online by mid-2026. At the same time, modular housing units are being deployed to provide rapid relief for families in critical need and work is progressing under the Private Sector Refurbishment Programme. In addition, planning is currently on track for the next phase of development, expected to deliver more than two hundred [200] additional units. Through these projects, the Government will be introducing new construction methods to reduce costs and timelines.
All of this work is guided by the Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy [2025–2035], a long-term plan to close Bermuda’s housing gap and modernize how we deliver quality, accessible homes. This strategy recognizes a fundamental truth. While each individual project matters, it is the collective effort including the steady expansion of supply, the modernization of infrastructure and the revitalization of existing inventory that will reshape our housing landscape for years to come.
Building a Fairer Future, One Home at a Time
Housing is about more than walls and roofs. It is about dignity, security, and opportunity. Every renovated unit, every new key handed over represents a step toward a Bermuda where every person has a safe place to call home.
Battery Park is not just a project.
It is progress.
It is a promise kept.
It symbolizes this Government’s commitment to her people.
It is part of a coordinated, strategic, and people-focused housing plan that is delivering for Bermudians today while building the foundations of a fairer tomorrow and more secure Bermuda for all.
- Senator Lauren Hayward Bell, Junior Minister of Housing & Municipalities
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Government who are just people has been told over and over again to stay out of the housing business ,you hear the need to create accommodation for people, from people who do not have the any idea how to accomplish the task which when finished no body seems to appreciate by giving affordability as the typical excuse as that being beyond their means unless it is free.
Accommodation does not just fall out of the sky as that project takes many willing hands to participate who will ask the question why!
Many people bang their heads together looking for solutions. now we come to the “want and need theory”. Got to start some where with the tax payer stuck with the burden. as it does not grow on trees.
The “waiting lis”t may need but don’t want to work for it.
As a result of Bermuda’s economic down turn caused bt inflation and Covid19 which caused our people a drastic in crease in the cost of living to the point of notable hardship.
Bermuda is not the only country faced with a more than realistic price increases under normal circumstances 1% either way allows many Countries to get by. The USA has it bargaining chip where Bermuda does not. We sell service and we are good at it also been at it for years.
THE SUPPLY OIL was the main problem now many are getting better prices unfortunately Bermuda is still on the hook,
what hit the consumer public here could be considered un fair an un reasonable out side sources are partly responsible also Bermuda business is in partly also responsible those numbers hit record high to be considered irresponsible. You may call it by different names if you will feel the down turn affected both buyer and seller and ever person and Bermuda did it to its self. Many will ask how long it will take us to put Humpty Dumpty back together again ? YEARS !
The way i see it now body is doing very much to help reduce the burden consequently we will be no better off, i would like to point fingers but that would not be prudent . At least Government is doing its best, that can not be done with high cost of labor and material the alternative is pay higher salelies that is catering to the problem . It is circus round about !
At lease we seem our power bill going down as part is reflected with taxation support.
Recently it was food now the load continues with smaller packaging now is housing as the ret are not what they have to pay but what people want to or can pay insurance went up soon rents followed , Peter pays Paul, but Paul does not pay Peter,
rents controlled hurts the home owner with mortgage debt so the unit comes off the market referred to as a shortage there are some advantage and also are some dis advantages to home owner ship.
Sorry, PAC MAN, but our Minister of Economy and Labour and our Premier and Minister of Finance have been telling us for years that Bermuda’s retail price inflation is lower than that of the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. We import the bulk of consumer products from those countries.
“The USA has it bargaining chip where Bermuda does not.”
We do not need a bargaining chip. We are better off than the U.S. according to our PLP Government.
“But Battery Park is not an isolated initiative”
Is it part of the same initiative that gave us the White Elephant/Grand Atlantic/Bermudiana Beach?