800,000 Housing Units for Phnom Penh by 2030

• 25 July 2017
• Local News
• 3339 Views

To meet the growing demand for housing among the low-middle income population, Phnom Penh will require an extra 800,000 housing units by 2030 according to the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC).

Speaking at the National Housing Forum on the theme “Housing at the Centre” hosted in late June, H.E. Chea Sophara, Minister of MLMUPC explained that since Phnom Penh’s population is estimated to reach almost 8 million or about 40 percent of the total population in 2030, the capital’s urban areas will need an additional 800,000 residential units to meet the needs of that population growth. The 15 year prediction is based largely on a rising population buoyed by a huge flow of rural people into the capital.

“To meet the growing demand, the MLMUPC has been implementing the National Housing Policy to encourage and endorse all sorts of low-cost housing developments that cost under USD30, 000 per unit with long–term payment,” H.E. Chea Sophara said at the forum.

Year on year, housing demand in Cambodia continues to rise as the population has rapidly grown over the last few years. While the current population is estimated at 15.8 million in 2017, the number is forecasted to reach between 18.4 million and 18.9 million people by 2030, according to the press release issued by Habitat for Humanity Cambodia that organised the National Housing Forum.

The report found that the private sector appears to be more focused on middle and upper middle income groups with household incomes over USD500 per month, while those focusing on households with incomes below this are making slower progress.

Housing developments for low-income earners are expected to provide 7,637 units by mid-2017. Currently, the MLMUPC has partnered with two developers; Worldbridge Land and B & BM, to develop affordable houses for low to medium income families. Located in Ponhear Lueu, Kandal Province, B & BM Development Co., Ltd broke ground in early May for a development project on about 82 hectares of land with 5,340 units. Worldbridge Land kicked off Phase 1 of its project in January on 24 hectares of land located near Takhmao town that will offer 2,297 two-storey houses.

Moreover, an Australian and Cambodian joint venture aims to launch an affordable housing project targeting newly-married couples looking to purchase their first homes.