The West End Development Corporation (Wedco) is seeking Expressions of Interest to develop or redevelop several historic west end sites.

In an advertisement in yesterday’s Royal Gazette, the quango said it is looking for proposals for Albert and Victoria Rows, Moresby Plain, The Parsonage and Maria Hill.

Submissions for all of the properties are required on or by May 31. Those shortlisted will be notified by the end of July and asked to make a detailed presentation to the Wedco board.

Wedco chairman Ray Charlton said: “We are looking for opportunities for entrepreneurs, businessmen and developers to come out here and look at the properties that are available.

“I see Wedco as the economic engine of the West End and we have lots of spaces and buildings available, so we are looking for anyone with ideas to come up and take a look so we can help create new business opportunities and create new jobs.”

Victoria and Albert Rows have been a cause for debate in recent years after the previous government announced plans to demolish the buildings in favour of new residential units.

The One Bermuda Alliance and other organisations called for the historic buildings to be saved, but the-then Progressive Labour Party government argued that the cost to bring the buildings back to acceptable standards was too high.

Earlier this year Wedco chairman Ray Charlton said Government and the quango still hoped to save the 140-year-old buildings, but they may be destroyed if a suitable proposal to restore them is not found.

The other buildings and sites listed in yesterday’s notice also have historic merits. Moresby’s Plain, named after Captain John Moresby of the Royal Navy, was built in 1881 near the entrance to the Royal Naval Dockyard. The property also includes the former HMS Malabar, a supply base, closed on April 1, 1995.

Maria Hill on Ireland Island currently houses the remnants of the Single Mechanics Quarters, which Mr Charlton described as being “beyond any kind of repairs”.

The Parsonage on Craddock Road, meanwhile, Mr Charlton described as a beautiful residential building located between Maria Hill and Lodge Point.

“My heart tells me it would be lovely to restore, but my head tells me the cost may just be too high,” he said. “If the right developer comes along it could be restored, I would like it to be restored, but I’m not sure people might be willing to put in the kind of money necessary to restore it.”