Draft laws have been tabled allowing Government to grant much longer leases ? in a bid to speed up home building and long-awaited redevelopment of areas like Dockyard.

Under the proposed changes, the existing 21-year lease limit that exists in some cases will be significantly extended to a maximum term of 120 years.

The new limit will apply to lease deals struck by the Bermuda Housing Corporation, the West End Development Corporation, the Bermuda Land Development Company and the Department of Works and Engineering.

Details are outlined in four new bills: the Department of Works and Engineering Amendment Act 2006, the Bermuda Housing Amendment Act 2006, the West End Development Corporation Amendment Act 2006 and the Base Lands Development Amendment Act 2006.

Provisions are included for longer leases to be vetted by Cabinet.

With the changes in the pipeline, reported last year how restrictive leases had hampered Dockyard's redevelopment plans.

Government will hope that, once passed, the law changes will spark a wave of home building in the historic former naval base.

For years the West End Development Corporation's project to transform the Victualling Yard by adding 56 houses for sale has been stalled because of the lease straitjacket.

Wedco wants to transform two large, run-down buildings on either side of the Courtyard behind the Frog and Onion. One is virtually empty and the other was gutted in fire.