A new transitional housing project in St. David's will be completed by the end of 2010 ¿ with the first rooms available next year.

Unveiling the Pepper Hall Commons plans yesterday, Minister of Housing David Burch said the complex will allow fathers and teenage boys - unable to live with their families at the six current Bermuda Housing Corporation rooming houses ¿ to rejoin their families.

The four buildings are located on currently vacant land in Pepper Hall Road. The majority of the 59 homes will have one bedroom, but the units can be combined to accommodate larger families.

Lt. Col. Burch said yesterday: "Plans for this project are well advanced and the submission to the Department of Planning occurred on October 14.

"Once all of the preparatory work has been concluded, ground breaking will occur in the first quarter 2008."

The aim is for the entire project to be completed in 30 months. With the traditional Bermuda buildings to be constructed in phases, the first will be occupied in 12 months, said the Minister.

He was unable to put a figure on the cost of the project, but revealed that the possibility of hiring two contractors is being explored in order to have two buildings ready within a year rather than the one pledged at the moment.

Giving an update on various other housing initiatives across the Island, the Minister added: "The Loughlands, Perimeter Lane and Harbour View projects are well underway and the Ewing Street site is next in line and those plans are scheduled for submission to planning within the next ten days.

"This is a very exciting time at the Bermuda Housing Corporation for me as Minister, the board and staff as we increase inventory to meet our mandate of providing housing for the people of this country."

Anyone in need of housing assistance should contact the BHC, he urged, or visit the website www.bhc.bm. The BHC offices are now open each Saturday from 9 a.m until 1 p.m.