Prime Minister Gaston Browne has cautioned citizens that the days of acquiring suburban land at prices as low as $5 per square foot are over, urging the public to adjust their expectations in light of current market realities.
Speaking during his weekly appearance on the _Browne and Browne_ show, the Prime Minister explained that government-owned land is now extremely limited, with demand far outstripping supply. For every available government lot, he said, there are at least ten applications.
Browne noted that most of the lots available through government allocations are located in rural areas such as Willikies and Singen, rather than in suburban centres where many applicants prefer to live. He warned that those waiting indefinitely for cheaper land risk being left behind, as private sector buyers—sometimes from outside the community—continue to acquire available property.
“There are people still operating in a mindset from ten years ago,” Browne said. “They believe they can get a piece of land in McKinnons for $5 a square foot. Those days are gone. Those lands are already privately owned.”
The Prime Minister encouraged citizens to consider purchasing land currently available through private developers, even if prices are higher than government lots. He highlighted areas like Rural North, where private land is reportedly being sold for about $12 per square foot, describing such offers as good value.
“Private sector lands are often in better locations,” Browne said. “It may seem more expensive, but in reality, it is good value for money.”
He added that relying solely on government allocations was unrealistic given the scarcity of available land and emphasised the need for broader housing solutions, including townhouse and condominium developments, to accommodate growing demand.
While acknowledging that influence sometimes plays a role in prioritizing land allocations, Browne said the underlying issue remained one of limited supply, not unfairness.
“There is no overnight solution to this problem,” he said.