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A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 17 August to mark the start of construction of 300 housing units at Pointe aux Sables in Mauritius. 

Deputy Prime Minister Steven Obeegadoo presided over the launch of the MUR800 million (US$17.6 million) project, which forms part of the first phase of the 12,000-unit New Social Living Development (NSLD) programme.

The first phase of the NSLD programme involves the construction of 8,000 residential units in eight zones across 20 constituencies in Mauritius.

Under the second phase of the NSLD, a further 4,000 units will be built. The NSLD scheme has been billed as the largest social housing development ever undertaken in Mauritius. It is scheduled for completion in 2024.

NSLD is a subsidiary of the state-owned National Housing Development Company (NHDC). It was established as a special purpose vehicle with the mandate to build 12,000 affordable residential units.

According to Obeegadoo, who is also minister of housing and land use planning, 39 sites across the country have been identified for the housing programme and contractors appointed, while building and land use permits have been received for 27 sites.

He added that about 4% of the housing units will be earmarked for disabled and elderly citizens, and 10% will be bought by the National Empowerment Foundation to use as social housing in a bid to support vulnerable families. 

Obeegadoo noted that the housing project includes rainwater harvesting systems, solar panels, solar water heaters and retention ponds in case of flooding.

Also in August, a foundation stone laying ceremony was held for the Résidence Mon Rêve development at Rose Hill in Mauritius.

The project entails the construction of two six-storey apartment blocks with each block containing 20 three-bedroom apartments and two penthouses. The state-owned Mauritius Housing Company (MHC) is the developer. Work is expected to be completed within 15 months.

Photo: Groundbreaking ceremony (Source: Government of Mauritius)