Plans for the Newstead and Belmont developments have not changed in two years, developer Kevin Petty told yesterday.

The properties are hoped to be operating by 2006, with a final building permit received for the Newstead site just this week.

Pressed about rumours that since work began at the two sites significant changes have been made to the developments, Mr. Petty responded that the work being done at the Newstead site is "exactly what we were given permission for".

The same held true for the Belmont site, he said. "Nothing has changed, the plans have not changed in two years.

"Everybody in Tourism and everybody in Planning likes what we are doing. They like the plans, they know what they are, and those plans have been approved."

Those plans called for the demolition of the old Newstead hotel, building a 104-room facility in its place, arranged into 41 suites and five cottages.

The new facility at Newstead will also include a full range of luxury services and amenities associated with a luxury quality hotel; including spa, pool, restaurant with harbour views, tennis and golf, and full concierge services. Yesterday, Mr. Petty said he expected the Newstead facility to come online by 2006.

Most of the construction at the Belmont site ? both the 50-room guest facility and the residential homes which are for sale ? is also hoped to be completed by that time. Contractors are lined up for both sites, he said ? three for Belmont and one at least for Newstead.

Controversy has surrounded the developments, however, with Harbour Road residents objecting vociferously to the Newstead proposals.

Sewage disposal, access to the Harbour Road property, and the size and style of the buildings to be erected were among residents' chief concerns, although the National Trust could not find any basis for launching an objection to the plans. The Newstead land is zoned for tourism use only.

"We are moving along as fast as we can to get everything online," Mr. Petty said yesterday.