The Bermuda Housing Trust (BHT) has sought planning permission to construct 100 self-contained units to house senior citizens in Southampton.

BHT wants to build the homes on a vacant lot between Sea Express Lane and Rockaway Road, Southampton.

BHT chairman Ronald Simmons said the project was put out for bids between a range of $12.5 million and $26 million.

Although he would not say who won the bid, he said BHT accepted the offer to build around the $12.5 million mark.

He emphasised that BHT did not go for the $25 million bid ? despite it being the most luxurious.

Although still waiting for planning approval, he hoped to break ground by the end of the year.

The concept BHT chose includes four housing ?pods? each containing 24 one-bedroom units.

Each three-storey pod has four arms each containing six units, with two units per-floor ? bringing the number of units to 96.

Four more units will be built close to the junction of Sea Express Lane and Rockaway Road, Mr. Simmons said, bringing the total number to 100 because ?it sounds better to get a century?.

?People remember the man who gets a century and not 96,? he said.

The units are fully contained in terms of appliances, he said, and there will be stairs and an elevator in each pod.

Similarly designed units are being constructed at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research, he said.

There are 190 people on the BHT waiting list he said, and as the new complex has room for more than 100 seniors, those already on the list will be given priority.