The owners of the Belmont Hotel have received a Special Development Order from the Ministry of Environment to proceed with a multi-million dollar revamp of the property to include a 120-room hotel and 73 residential units.

Belmont Hills Development Limited submitted an application to the Planning Department in June to demolish the existing buildings and proceed with the massive redevelopment project.

American Richard Halsey bought the Warwick property in July 2001 for an undisclosed sum and work at the development is set to run through 2006, although the hope is to open the hotel portion of the property sooner.

The hotel has been closed since November 1998 although the golf club remained in operation until last January.

The 85-acre site will now be developed to include a small hotel and three categories of residential units ranging from one to two bedrooms.

The developers were forced to seek a Special Development Order for the work due to the site's zoning for tourism.

It also includes large conservation areas where woodland, woodland reserve and agricultural lands are protected.

The agricultural land will be redeveloped as `endemic forest' according to a letter from agents Entasis Architecture to the Planning department, however the development is likely to draw the keen attention of conservation groups.

The developers already ran afoul of Planning in January when excavation took place parts of the hotel's golf course although the project was not yet approved. Fairways alongside Ord Road were excavated and workers cut through a cliff near the Middle Road underpass to accommodate a new cart path.

Environment Ministry Permanent Secretary Brian Rowlinson sent two warnings to the developers within a week, the first after the Bermuda National Trust complained about excessive excavation of the fairways with heavy equipment.

According to the plans submitted for the newly-approved development, a small portion of the hotel as standing will be retained but converted to residential stock.

The majority of the existing structures, however, will come down to open land for the construction of a new 72,000 square-foot hotel, 200,000 square-foot residential units and 19,000 square-foot golf and recreational centre.

The residential units will be divided among 37 villas; the largest being 11 detached, single-storey residences with garages, covered patios and pools of 3,000 square-feet each, the SDO notes.

There will also 37 smaller units ranging from 1,650 to 1,850 square feet also with covered patios and pools.

Forty, one and two-bedroom apartments will be housed on five floors of the converted, existing hotel structure as well as golf clubhouse, restaurant, kitchen, pro shop, changing rooms and offices.

A new pool, pool terrace and gymnasium are also intended for the Belmont Hills hotel grounds.

The entire property will be connected with a series of roadways and footpaths although the site will retain the existing access roads.

Environment Minister Dennis Lister signed off on the SDO in August 8 of this year after the plans received the endorsement of the Ministry of Tourism.

"Prior to the submission of an application for building permit for the 120-room hotel, the applicant shall submit for the review of the Ministry of the Environment detailed drawings and site cross sections to illustrate the appearance of the northern elevation, as viewed from the public road, and details of the landscaping and planting to be carried out between the hotel and Middle Road for the purpose of assessing or ameliorating the visual impact of the building as seen from the public road," the SDO noted.

The Belmont Hills group has also been asked to bring forward the development of hotel so that it precedes or takes place simultaneously with the 37 residential villas.

Kevin Petty of Somers Management and Somers Realty, and a cousin to Mr. Halsey, is managing director of the project.

Attempts to contact Mr. Petty for comment last night were unsuccessful.