Gore Development Limited will be developing 828 homes in Trelawny, one of the biggest residential projects ever to be rolled out in the parish.

The local planning authority, Trelawny Parish Council, is in the process of reviewing the plans but said Tuesday it was likely to sign off on the project soon.

The developers, who declined to be interviewed for this story, have already produced an environmental impact assessment and held public consultations on the Florence Hall project's impact on surrounding communities.

Gore will, according to the EIA filed with the National Environment and Planning Agency, be constructing 828 two-bedroom detached homes on separate residential lots.

Gerald Lee, secretary/manager of the Trelawny Parish Council, said Gore filed an application at the council last November, more than six months ago.

"The approval is in process," he told Wednesday Business.

"We don't have any concerns because the EIA was done and there is also the public consultation, which was held with the concerned parties. The citizens, everybody participated and there was no concern raised over the development.

"In terms of housing development, it would be one of biggest projects to be done in Trelwany," said Lee.

He was unable to say the size of the investment.

But according to Wednesday Business sources, a project of this nature could cost as much as J$4 billion.

The houses will be developed on 72.4 hectares, or 178.90 acres, of land at Florence Hall in Trelawny.

The lot sizes will be a minimum of 420.5 square metres (4,500 square feet).

Proposed development

The proposed development aims to satisfy the current housing demand along the north coast stretch between urban centre Montego Bay, St James, and rural township Duncans in Trelawny, said the EIA report.

The property is south of and bordered by the North Coast Highway, directly across from Oyster Bay and within proximity to Falmouth.

Access to the property is via an entrance on the east of the Daniel Town road, just a few metres from the entrance to the state-owned Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, located west of the property.

Five of the 828 lots have been allocated for dual purposes, which means they can used for commercial activity, but limited to small 'corner shops' for groceries, dressmaking, hairdressing or other low-impact businesses, said the EIA report.

The development is to be done in two major phases, according to the EIA report, with the homes to be complemented by large, medium and small neighbourhood parks, cave reservations, and a football field.

It will include a site for a pre-school facility.

Comparative projects done by Gore include a 845-complex of two bedroom homes at New Harbour Village in Old Harbour, St Catherine, in 2007, and 900 units at Ryhne Park Village in St James.

dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com