Progress continues to be made with plans to transform the old Grand Atlantic into a luxury condo-hotel property, according to Government.

Representatives from developers MacLellan and Associates were in Bermuda last week to provide a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) presentation pack on how the Bermudiana Beach Resort project on Warwick’s South Shore will move forward. Government will now review the MOU conditions before conversion works to build the proposed 100 hotel suites, bar, restaurant, spa and swimming pool.

“The Government is now in a position to carry out its own due diligence to substantiate that all required MOU conditions have indeed been met to its satisfaction,” said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Public Works.

“After the Government’s review of all MOU conditions, a press conference will be arranged to inform the public of the conclusion.”

Public Works Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin told the House of Assembly in November that conversion of the Grand Atlantic could begin early this year.

She revealed that MacLellan and Associates’ MOU for the property had expired at the beginning of November, but the decision had been made to extend it for another 120 days so that “only a few” minor conditions could be satisfied. Yesterday, Robert MacLellan said: “We would like to begin pre-sales for the proposed whole ownership condominium hotel product and resort conversion works as soon as the property transaction is complete.

“This is a unique opportunity to create a new tourism accommodations model that is sustainable, and repurposes the existing Bermuda housing units.

“Bermuda is ready for fresh, new, innovative hotel inventory.” The presentation pack handed to Government last week provides documentation for the specified conditions set forth in the agreement to acquire the Grand Atlantic site.

Planning approvals for unit conversions and landscape design have been obtained and the development team has worked to satisfy the remaining conditions of their agreement to purchase the site on South Shore, Warwick.