Bermuda College has been given the go-ahead for expansion plans which will add more teaching facilities, student accommodation and a post office.

The long fought for new Paget Post Office -- to be built at the front of the South Shore property -- will be welcomed by local residents looking for a safe place to park and postal workers looking for more room.

The Development Application Board has approved the plans in principle and will look at them again when detailed plans emerge.

It is understood the plans call for a two-storey day care centre and post office a short distance into the property.

Agricultural land at the front of the site next to South Shore Road cannot be used.

Also included in the package are new luxury guest suites at Stonington Hotel, a multi-storey car park building, tennis and basketball courts, and a swimming pool.

Further approval will then be needed for height, design and appearance of the buildings, site landscaping and parking.

Paget East MP Kim Young this weekend applauded the move, saying both the previous government as well as the Progressive Labour Party had worked hard to get the post office.

College plans given green light "I'm absolutely delighted,'' she said. "And I'm sure the people of Paget will be delighted with this news.

"The very interesting thing is when this project is going to start,'' Mrs.

Young added. "It's a big project, but I hope the post office part starts sooner rather than later.'' College President George Cook last night said the expansion was part of a strategic plan to make the Island's only institution of higher learning into a "University College''.

"We're very pleased with the in-principle approval,'' he said. "No funding has been approved yet and each building will have to be approved in turn itself.'' "But this is part of our plan to build a well rounded educational facility.'' Dr. Cook could not say yet how much the expansion would cost.

The biggest change -- dormitories -- will be available to 120 local and foreign students during the semester, allowing them to be used during the summer for attendees at a new entrepreneurial and managerial institute.

"For example, we have a relationship with the American Managers Association and they could fly down to the institute and sleep in the dorms,'' Dr. Cook said.

"During the semester Stonington Hotel, because it's the off season would take them in,'' he added.

The hotel will get suites, in a bid to get its five star classification, thereby boosting its status and teaching opportunities.

The Paget Post Office will be leased to Government for a "nominal fee'' Dr.

Cook said.

Having the day care centre on the property would be of benefit to the college community as well as the surrounding neighbourhood, not in the least because of the College's early child care teaching programme.

BERMUDA COLLEGE EDC