to Bermuda, say the consultants studying the future of the lands.

But the planning team -- made up of London-based EDAW and Bermuda architecture firm Barker and Linberg -- says some of the lands may be put on a "fast track'' for development, while others come onstream more slowly.

The team headed by EDAW is preparing economic development and land use plans for the US Naval Air Station, which closes next September, as well as the US Naval Annex in Southampton, the US Naval Facility at Tudor Hill, and the Canadian Forces Station at Daniel's Head, all of which are now closed.

The Royal Navy Base, HMS Malabar , is also closing at the end of March. But its future is being plotted by the West End Development Corporation.

Although the adverse economic impact is heightened, there are advantages for Bermuda in having several Base closures to deal with at once, said Mr. Bob Pell, EDAW's managing director.

"The advantage of having different locations is you can get very different opportunities in each of them, which is good,'' said Mr. Pell, whose company has prepared studies for base closures in Britain, Germany, Greece, and the United States.

With four different sites, Bermuda has "four separate opportunities,'' Mr.

Pell said. That will allow the consultants to make recommendations on phasing and priorities when they file a report at Easter, he said.

Some sites could be put on a "fast track'' for development, while others would come on stream more slowly.

Last month, Government awarded the $296,000 planning contract to EDAW and its local partner, choosing them over 12 other proposals from many top firms around the world.

The planners are to work with Government's Base utilisation committee to assess development proposals and prepare land use plans and development strategies.

More than 100 Base proposals have already been submitted to Government, and the consultants expect more to arrive during the 16 weeks it will take them to complete their study.

Recommendations will not necessarily be restricted to the Base lands, Mr. Pell said. Land swaps are one possibility. And, "quite often the solutions economically don't lie within the same boundary fence as the Bases themselves.'' One of the goals is to replace lost jobs and "it may well be that some of these jobs are not going to be on the Bases.'' While the planners stressed their report would be no "quick fix,'' Mr. Pell said Bermudians have reason to be optimistic about the closures. Three bases are already closed and the Naval Air Station has been downsizing for years, so "most of the loss of revenue has already occurred,'' Mr. Pell said.

"The further negative part to come is when Governent starts picking up the tab for the maintenance and for the Airport.'' But, "you've had an awful lot of the bad news already. Everything we do now should be adding back in.'' Barker & Linberg, which prepared the Dockyard study for former Royal Navy Base lands in 1984, will do much of the land use work and provide EDAW with local knowledge, said partner Mr. Bruce Barker.

Bermuda "doesn't work like any other place,'' Mr. Barker said. "That's the one thing that people who come from abroad need to get their heads around.

It's not always easy to understand how it works until you've been here for a while.'' Mr. Barker said the closures pose an economic challenge in the short term, but offer "a unique opportunity for Bermuda to get back ten percent of its land area. We need to make the most of it.'' The pace of development will depend on the market, Mr. Pell said. "As much as Government wishes to be proactive, it can't do things if the market isn't there. Depending on the economy, Government's role could be to control development, or stimulate it, he said.

At various stages, nine people from EDAW and five from Barker & Linberg are to be involved in the p roject. Staff from the Base Transition Office, especially Mr. Peter Adwick of Planning, will also be heavily involved.

Mr. Bob Pell Mr. Bruce Barker