Derelict and vacant properties will be commandeered by the Government and, if necessary, renovated so that they can be used by people in need of affordable housing.

And the former St. George?s senior training school site is on the list for Housing Minister Sen. David Burch to build on as he grapples with the Island?s affordable housing shortage.

Bermuda?s housing problem was put under the spotlight by Sen. David Burch and Shadow Housing Minister Sen. Kim Swan last night at a public forum at the Leopards Club.

Rather than seek political point scoring, the two Senators concentrated on outlining constructive solutions to the Island?s housing issue ? and were applauded for their positive approach by the audience.

Sen. Burch revealed two ?out of the box? schemes he envisages will go some way to addressing the housing problem.

He initially told the audience there were plans being made but he would not reveal details until the time was right in order they are not scuppered before they get off the ground.

But he then gave an example of one scheme, saying: ?There is a property in St. George?s, where the senior training school was, and I want it. It is a property that has been built on before so we will look to build on it again.

?That?s one thing that you get advance notice on ? but that?s the type of approach to development that you need to take. We don?t have to build on every piece of empty land that we have got.?

Sen. Burch added:?We have provision now within the Act and we are going to exercise it. There is provision now for the Minister to designate an area as a ?general improvement area?.

?The Act allows you to say ? this house, or these two houses that are derelict are now declared a general improvement area and what you do is try and find out who owns it and you write to them and say ?You have ?x? amount of time to do something about it otherwise the Government is going to come in and do it?.

?What the Government then does is it comes in and it doesn?t confiscate the property, we rehabilitate it, put somebody in there, keep someone in there until we get our money back and then the families that are squabbling over a place that was derelict will be squabbling over how to divvy up the rent.?