Tourism Minister Shawn Crockwell has celebrated the progress of the Bermudiana Beach Resort — formerly the Grand Atlantic housing complex — which recently received planning approval.

In a brief statement, Mr Crockwell said: “We are pleased with the progress that has been made thus far and we will continue to provide support.

“We are looking forward to the completion of this project which would complete the array of accommodations we have to offer as a tourist destination.”

Developers MacLellan & Associates last week received approval by the Development Applications Board to adapt the existing Warwick complex into a Condo Hotel.

The developers have also sought planning approval to further secure a nearby cliff face, which proved to be a chief area of concern for critics of the housing development.

The Royal Gazette reported that the plan involved adapting 70 of the 78 residential units on the site into 104 tourism units, while the remaining eight residential units would be turned into hotel amenities such as a reception area, a restaurant and a bar.

The units would be subdivided by use of common hallways and lock-off doors so that the three-bedroom units on the site could be rented as two single bedroom units and a studio unit, while the two-bedroom units could be

divided into a single bedroom unit and a studio.

The site would be operated as a condo hotel, through which individuals would be able to purchase units.

The purchasers would be able to stay in the units for a maximum of 90 days per year, while units would form part of the hotel inventory for the rest of the year, rentable to tourists on a daily basis.

Revenue from such rentals would be split between the owner of the units and the hotel operating company itself.

The proposal also suggested the instillation of elevators in all but one of the buildings, the creation of a resort pool and extensive landscaping work.

The Planning Assessment stated: “The proposed condo hotel makes best use of the existing buildings and infrastructure and the intended improvements by way of landscaping and architectural embellishments improve the site from an aesthetic perspective.

“The proposed condo hotel will create a new tourism product for the Island and will be beneficial to the economy in a myriad of ways.”