The construction of any road network often opens up the possibility for new development along the corridor.

In the United States, for example, the number of residents in sparsely populated communities often grows after a road network is built to allow access. This process is called suburbanisation, which is basically the growth of areas on the fringes of cities.

The recent opening of the North-South leg of Highway 2000 is most likely to bring tremendous opportunities to the people of Jamaica and the economy’s development. In fact, Prime Minister Andrew Holness, at the opening ceremony in March, championed the need for initiatives that would spark growth and development along the thoroughfare. While noting that the highway does not guarantee economic growth, Holness said there needed to be initiatives that would encourage and attract investors.

“We intend to make the most of the highway,” he stated at the time.

His comment resulted in the Jamaica Observer contacting private and public developers about the possibility for housing along the thoroughfare.

Gore Developments — one of the island’s leading real estate developers — noted that it does not have access to the information it would need to make an informed statement on the viability of housing construction along the road.

“To consider whether it would be feasible to establish housing developments along the recently opened thoroughfare, he (Phillip Gore, executive chairman) would need to know whether the topography of the lands were suitable for development, whether there was adequate water supply, conditions for sewage, and whether such proposed developments would be granted access onto the thoroughfare,” stated the company’s communications spokeswoman, Joanne Padget, on behalf of Gore.

Padget also stated that the chairman was not aware of which lands would be available for development.

Managing director of the Housing Agency of Jamaica (HAJ), Karl Bennett, told the Observer that “there are no plans at the moment for that (housing developments along the highway) on our part”.

He stated that such an initiative would come from a government directive, which he said has not been issued. Bennett suggested that the questions be directed at the chief technical officer in the ministry responsible for housing, but efforts to contact the individual proved futile.

The State-run National Housing Trust (NHT) — which has the responsibility of increasing and enhancing the stock of available housing in Jamaica — had a more detailed response. Information provided by the trust suggested that it would be interested in developing the area should developmental criteria be met.

“The NHT continues to be interested in lands that are ideal for housing. The relevant criteria that are considered include access to physical infrastructure such as water, sewage treatment, electricity and roadways and social infrastructure such as police station, schools. Another important consideration is the effective demand for housing in the area identified,” the NHT said.

Though the NHT has not evaluated the suitability of the lands along the highway, the organisation said it was working on developments in close proximity to the infrastructure.

“The NHT is currently focused on the evaluation of lands in areas already identified as having high demand for housing in parts of St Ann and are in close proximity to existing infrastructure,” it said. “While the NHT is not the agency responsible for development, it is currently assisting the parish councils with the preparation of Parish Development Plans. It is expected that the plans for St Catherine and St Ann will identify the areas slated for development, which should include housing.”

The North-South link of Highway 2000runs from Caymanas in St Catherine to Mammee Bay, St Ann.

At its opening, Minister of Transport Mike Henry, like the prime minister, stated that work needs to be done to encourage the development along the highway, noting that there were to be developments along the East-West link of the highway which have not been actualised.