Metra Estate Legacy: a major step towards affordable housing for the middle class in Cambodia

The official launch of Metra Estate Legacy, Cambodia’s first "affordable value housing" project, took place last Monday in the Chbar Ampov district, marking a significant advancement towards achieving the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This ambitious project aims to offer affordable, quality housing, strategically located, for middle-class families, while contributing to the improvement of living standards in urban centers.

The inauguration ceremony was presided over by His Excellency Tep Thorn, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, who praised this pioneering initiative. He expressed his admiration for Metra Estate Legacy, emphasizing its direct alignment with the Royal Government of Cambodia’s policy, through the ministry, to help middle-class families access affordable and quality housing.

"This project constitutes an essential solution for the economic fabric—active families who deserve the dignity of homeownership, thus contributing to reaching the SDG targets by providing affordable, well-located, quality housing for the middle class segment while improving their living conditions," said His Excellency Tep Thorn during his opening speeches.

This milestone highlights a major gap in the Cambodian real estate market: the lack of quality housing, ideally located, at affordable prices for the middle class, which represents 40% of total demand but remains largely underserved.

Kenn Yeo, General Manager of Metra BCCJP Co., Ltd., the project developer, confirmed that the strong demand for Phase 1A, even before its official launch, illustrated the reality: there is a considerable and unmet demand from active Cambodian families.

"This project shows that responding to the needs of the Cambodian middle class can be both socially relevant and economically profitable," emphasized Mr. Yeo.

He added that multiplier effects, such as employment in construction, opportunities for suppliers, engagement of the financial sector, and awareness that combined family income makes ownership accessible, extend well beyond the first cohort of residents.

Metra precisely targets households in the P50-P80 segment, families with average monthly incomes between 900 and 1200 US dollars, composed of two or more active adults. Among them are teachers, health professionals, civil servants, small entrepreneurs, and factory supervisors—all forming the backbone of the Cambodian economy.

According to a JICA study, Phnom Penh alone needs about 8,000 housing units per year for this segment, while to date, the supply of quality housing at corresponding prices remains almost nonexistent. The goal is to meet this critical demand in line with the principles of SDG 11, which advocates sustainable cities.

This crucial issue remains "a priority for the Cambodian government, which seeks to ensure its citizens have safe, affordable, and dignified housing while supporting economic growth and social development in its urban areas."