Applications Open for 1,650-Unit Catherine Estates as Housing Policy Heads to White Paper

ST. CATHERINE, Jamaica — Prospective homeowners can now apply for units at Catherine Estates, a 1,650-unit housing development in St. Catherine being delivered by the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), with prices starting at $6 million.

Applications opened on June 28, Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change Pearnel Charles Jr. said at an event reported by the Jamaica Information Service. The HAJ is developing the project in partnership with China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), and applications are being taken through the agency’s website.

Communities, not just houses

Mr. Charles Jr. said the Government’s aim is to build sustainable communities, with amenities and social structures that give residents access to essential services, rather than simply putting up houses. HAJ Managing Director Gary Howell, HAJ Deputy Chairman Sylvester Tulloch and Horizon Park Division Councillor Jennifer Hull were among those in attendance.

National Housing Policy moves forward

The minister also said the draft National Housing Policy will be advanced to a White Paper during the 2021/22 financial year. The policy was approved as a Green Paper in 2019 and focuses on integrated and sustainable housing development. It is tied to a broader goal of delivering 70,000 housing solutions, with a significant share in the affordable category.

Moving from a Green Paper to a White Paper is the step at which a policy is settled as the Government’s formal position, setting the framework for later legislation and programmes.

What it means for first-time buyers

A starting price of $6 million puts Catherine Estates within reach of many first-time buyers who qualify for National Housing Trust financing, particularly couples with two incomes. With 1,650 units, it is also one of the larger single additions to affordable supply in the St. Catherine corridor, where demand from Kingston commuters is strong. Interested buyers should check their NHT and bank pre-qualification early, prepare proof of income and contributions, and read the unit specifications and infrastructure timelines carefully before committing, as large developments are often completed and handed over in phases.

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