Work on a new housing complex for seniors in Southampton is making ?considerable progress?, the Bermuda Housing Trust said yesterday.

Since a ground-breaking ceremony in April, work has been completed on all underground services, foundations, trenches, pits and water tanks.

Elevator shafts for two of five pods at the $12.5 million Rockaway development are also in place, Bermuda Housing Trust chairman Ronald Simmons said.

As a crane lifted side walls of homes into place behind him on site yesterday morning, Mr. Simmons added: ?We are extremely pleased with the work done to date and are impressed with the timeliness of the overall project.?

The Trust chairman confirmed that work was on schedule ? and the development boasting 100 affordable apartments was still on schedule to meet its July, 2007 deadline.

Pre-fabricated panels have been delivered and will be installed in the latest stage of construction.

Floor and roof compartments are next in line to be added at the former woodland site that had stood unused for decades.

The development has been backed by a $2.5 million donation and a favourable loan from the Bank of Bermuda. Its chief executive officer Philip Butterfield said progress at Rockaway was encouraging.

?Today is further proof that this project is not merely a dream but a reality that can be measured by a meaningful solution of bricks and mortar.?

Bank of Bermuda Foundation deputy chairman David Hamshere said: ?We are confident the Rockaway project will go a long way in securing a stable and comfortable future for all of Bermuda?s senior citizens.?

Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton, who is MP for the Rockaway area, toured the building site yesterday.

He later thanked developers for helping to pave the way for more seniors to be able to lead quality lives.

The project ? using an innovative hurricane and earthquake-proof panel system ? will be completed in phases, or pods, with each pod taking three months to complete.

The four main pods have a total of 96 units and a smaller structure will house four further units.

Each pod is self-sufficient and consists of four, three-storey buildings that circle a central staircase and elevator.

Applications for the development were still being received by the Bermuda Housing Trust office. The trust said the assessment process to decide who lives there was ongoing.

For more information call 295-8623, extension 205.