The Cayman Islands Government has taken a major step toward addressing housing access and affordability, tabling the country’s first Public and Affordable Housing Policy and 10‑Year Strategic Plan in Parliament. The framework, led by the Ministry of Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing & Infrastructure (MPLAHI), is described as a historic turning point in how the Islands plan, deliver and sustain public and affordable housing.
The Policy and Strategic Plan were tabled by Hon. Johany “Jay” Ebanks, MP, Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing & Infrastructure. Together, they set out a national roadmap to guide public and affordable housing delivery over the next decade, with a core mission to ensure that every Caymanian has access to safe, affordable and sustainable housing.
According to the Ministry, the framework is grounded in extensive public engagement. More than 1,000 residents participated in the process, supported by over 120 key‑informant interviews and 1,216 survey responses, along with town hall meetings on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac and input from Little Cayman.
Minister Ebanks said the new Policy and Plan represent more than just a technical reform. “Today is not just a policy moment. Today is a promise honoured. For the first time, the Cayman Islands has a dedicated national framework for public and affordable housing — one built around Caymanian families, Caymanian dignity, and Caymanian futures,” he said. He added that the strategy moves the country “beyond short-term responses and into disciplined, coordinated, accountable delivery,” emphasising that housing is about “real people, real families, real communities.”
The 10‑Year Strategic Plan sets out 98 actionable recommendations supported by accountability measures, measurable indicators and realistic timelines. These recommendations focus on three key priorities:
Building more homes faster
Improving affordability for Caymanians
Future‑proofing the Islands through stronger planning, infrastructure alignment and resilient community development
To speed up delivery, the Policy proposes streamlining permitting processes, setting statutory timelines and increasing capacity through pre‑approved house plans. It also calls for fast‑tracking affordable housing projects and strengthening coordination through the proposed creation of a Housing Authority.
The Policy outlines a toolkit of measures aimed at making home ownership and secure housing more attainable for Caymanians. These include shared equity pathways, lease‑to‑own models, mortgage guarantees, down‑payment support and energy‑efficiency incentives. The framework also highlights the need to respond to speculation, vacancy and other forms of market distortion that can drive up housing costs.
Minister Ebanks stressed that Caymanians “must have a fair chance in their own home country,” noting that the Plan provides “the tools, the structure, and the direction to build more homes, improve affordability, strengthen communities, and secure a future where our people can live, raise families, and retire in the land that carries their name.”
Beyond immediate housing needs, the 10‑Year Strategic Plan is closely linked to wider national development objectives. Recommendations are aligned with the National Development Plan, Area Plans and the creation of mixed‑use communities, as well as appropriate density, infrastructure investment, climate resilience and higher‑paid Caymanian employment opportunities.
The Ministry will work with the National Housing Development Trust, relevant public agencies, stakeholders and communities to advance the Plan in a phased and disciplined manner. Officials say the tabling of the Policy and Strategic Plan represents a landmark step in modernising housing delivery in the Cayman Islands and establishing a more coordinated, sustainable and accountable system for the future.