A land swap deal allowing a luxury tourism resort to be built at Morgan's Point could be put before MPs within the next two weeks, according to Southampton MP Randy Horton.

Government and Southlands Ltd. have made "significant progress" over the plan which could see a hotel, condos and golf course set up at the former US Naval Annex, the backbencher told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

It's hoped the developers — Brian Duperreault, Nelson Hunt and Craig Christensen — would help remove millions of dollars worth of dangerous materials as part of the deal, and Government is said to have already received interest from clean-up firms.

The land swap — which could also lead to Warwick's Southlands estate being turned into a national park — hit the rocks following a public row between Premier Ewart Brown and Mr. Duperreault in February.

But Mr. Horton said yesterday: "It looks like they are making significant progress. They would have to come to the House of Assembly for agreement in terms of the land swap. From what I have been made to understand, I hope it gets before the House in time for us to debate before we go down for the summer."

It's expected the final House sitting before the summer will be Friday, July 16.

The land swap deal was agreed in 2008 so that a luxury hotel intended for the 37-acre greenfield Southlands would instead be built on 80 acres of derelict land at Morgan's Point.

Five months ago, Mr. Duperreault claimed Dr. Brown did not want to complete the land swap deal; Government responded that the delay was due to Southlands Ltd.'s failure to come up with a proper plan for the resort.

Asked about suggestions the Premier had not been keen on the exchange, Mr. Horton said: "It was a very slow process. There was some who may have thought that."

But he believes the initiative will get the backing of MPs, saying: "I feel fully confident that it will get the support. I think that certainly people want to see something positive happening here."

Mr. Horton, who visited the site yesterday as part of this newspaper's Up Your Street series, conceded many residents would be sceptical work would finally commence after so many years waiting for something to be done. He estimated the project would take five years to complete, but parts of it could be up and running in three years.

Cabinet secretary Marc Telemaque would not comment on the land swap deal yesterday. Southlands Ltd. did not return calls by press time.