Hon. Kumar launches 2 bedroom house plan for Rural and Maritime Areas
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Tuesday 6 October 2020 – The Minister for Housing and Community Development Hon. Premila Kumar today launched the Ministry’s new two bedroom house plan.
This house plan was designed mainly for the Fijians living in Rural and Maritime areas to encourage them to build better and stronger homes.
“This plan was developed for the housing assistance provided by the Government to those living in rural and maritime areas. It is important that houses in these areas are built to withstand strong winds and cyclones. In addition, this new plan is certified by the engineer for Category Four Cyclones and complies with the Guidelines for improving Building Safety and Resilience of New Single Storey Houses and Schools in Rural Areas of Fiji set out by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport,” said Hon. Kumar.
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The house plan is designed with weather board exterior to better suit the maritime areas of Fiji with kitchen, toilet and bathroom facilities separated from the bed rooms using a roofed passage.
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“The plan allows for better air circulation and having the kitchen separated from the bedrooms also minimize the damages in the event of any fires,” Hon. Kumar stated.
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The Minister added that the two bedrooms with the partition can be customized to suit individual needs, For example a one bed room with a living area or for those who would like to use an open house plan can simply do away with the partition.
The house plan together with the approved material list is now available online and can be downloaded free from the Ministry of Housing and Community Development website www.housing.gov.fj and interested individuals don’t have to visit the Ministry to obtain this plan anymore. The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) is also aware of this plan and those who wish to use this plan to build their homes using the housing eligibility under the FNPF can now download this online plan.
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The rural housing assistance program has been in existence since 1976 in different forms and this is the first time an engineer certified category 4 house plan has been made available free of charge. The Ministry is urging interested individuals who will use the plan, to build according to the specifications provided.
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The cost of materials to build according to this house plan is approximately $18,700 based on the Government tender prices set for the Rural Housing Assistance program. The Ministry will soon be publishing material list from three different suppliers as a packaged price for the benefit of the rural and maritime dwellers. A concrete version of the same house plan is also available and can be provided upon request.
“We will very soon be introducing a two bedroom and a three bedroom house plan for the urban areas as well. Our aim is to assist the low income earners to save money by not forking out money for architectural and engineering drawings so that housing becomes more affordable,” said the Minister.
Hon. Kumar also thanked Koro-i-Pita Model Town Trust for sharing their concept design with the Ministry and Shri Singh and Associates and Rawlinson Jenkins Pte Limited who assisted with the engineering certification and bill of quantities for this new two bedroom house plan.
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For further information please contact:
Mr. Sanjeeva Perera
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Housing and Community Development
Email: sanjeeva.perera@govnet.gov.fj
Tel: 3309918