Two Opposition MPs have called for more detail on how the Fairmont Southampton redevelopment might affect its surroundings as well as the thinking behind the resort’s associated residential projects.

Dwayne Robinson, the MP for Southampton East Central (Constituency 30) issued a joint statement with Linda Smith, MP for Southampton West Central (Constituency 31), which said that the particulars of the latest special development order for the resort, published in November, needed to be shared with its neighbours.

The two said residents in their respective constituencies needed to know more about how the project, which puts the resort on track to reopen this year, stood to affect their quality of life.

Ms Smith said both the Government and Gencom, the Miami-based investment firm whose affiliate, Westend Properties Ltd, owns the resort, were obliged to be “transparent and answer questions about the overall development” surrounding the island’s largest hotel.

She noted that “many iterations” of various SDOs for the resort went back to 2009.

Ms Smith added: “We believe those questions should include financial justification for the scope of the residential component and the impact the current development plans will have on the quality of life for everyday residents to continue to enjoy Bermuda’s public South Shore Road, vistas and amenities.

“‘We recognise the need for additional development to enable acceptable rate of return on a hotel investment. However, what is not clear is how government and the developer arrived at the conclusion that the current plan is reasonable and balances beneficial fairness to the community and the developer.”

Mr Robinson, who is also Shadow Minister for Tourism and Transport, emphasised that he supported bringing the resort, which shut down six years ago early in the Covid-19 pandemic, back online.

“We look forward to the day when this iconic property is back up and running,” he said.

“That said, it is difficult to feel the same about some of the residential plans. Not enough detailed meaningful information has been shared with the public, particularly the residents of Southampton who will be most affected by the construction, increased traffic, noise and loss of open spaces.”

The most recent order approves up to 159 tourist accommodation units and up to 91 residential units in buildings of two to four storeys.

Mr Robinson said he had reservations regarding “some of the residential plans” — claiming there was insufficient “detailed, meaningful information” shared with the public, and neighbours in particular, who stood to bear the brunt of “construction, increased traffic, noise and loss of open spaces”.

He acknowledged that the developers had said that sketches provided depicting what the public could expect to see at the Fairmont site were projections only.

Mr Robinson continued: “We believe that the lack of details shared with the public effectively fails to provide the community with a clear understanding as to what has been agreed and at what cost to Bermuda and the local Southampton community.

“I am also uncertain whether or not Bermudians will be able to afford the residential units.”

Both MPs said they wanted developers, as well as the Government, to hold an “open forum” with Southampton residents.

Ms Smith said it was “certainly reasonable” for constituents standing to be affected by the SDO’s residential developments to get a clear idea of “what is being planned and how it will change the view from their backyards and the living conditions in their immediate neighbourhoods”.

Gencom declined to comment last night.

A request for comment on the SDO was also sent to the Ministry of the Cabinet and Digital Innovation but no response was received by press time.