Action for Housing have issued a statement regarding the Road to the Lines refurbishment and have questioned the focus on studios and 1 bedroom apartments as well as the future of existing tenants.

A statement from Action for Housing follows below:

The Action for Housing pressure group is pleased to know that a full planning application for phase one of the refurbishment of properties on Road to the Lines has been filed with the Town Planner, and the project will comprise a total of 18 buildings. 

The long-awaited project states it is ‘built by Gibraltarians for Gibraltarians’ which aims to address local housing needs while reflecting the community's character. It is not clear whether the homes will be for private ownership, rental, put out to tender, or given to those on the housing waiting list. If they are for private sale how will these flats be priced, and will they be within the financial reach of the average wage earners?

The development will only be featuring studios and 1-bedroom apartments. We think it is short-sighted to limit the project to small dwellings when families in need of housing require 2 bedrooms and more. The block designated for refurbishment already houses government tenants. If this project goes ahead what happens to the families currently living there?

Road to the Lines has been neglected for many years and up until very recently the government had chosen a private developer who was going to carry out the refurbishment. This fell through and the properties reverted back to the Ministry of Housing for the housing minister to decide the next step. This latest announcement from a new private developer while positive at the outset also raises serious questions.