A new hotel development is planned for Royal Naval Dockyard and it is hoped it will open its doors by next July.

The "Cottage Inn" will be located at the former Royal Navy facilities on Cockburn Road, Ireland's Island and is intended as a boutique-style, all suite resort with food and bar services on site.

The property is being redeveloped through West End Development Corporation (WEDCO), which has submitted an application to Planning for change of use zoning from "military" to "commercial".

Yesterday, WEDCO development manager Ed Williams told The Royal Gazette that the property was one of the last to be turned over following the withdrawal of the British Navy in 1995.

The plan to turn the area over to tourist accommodation is set for two phases, the first of which would see the conversion of "The Cottage" into an Inn for at least part of the 2002 tourist season.

The second phase of the development will focus on the "Prince Albert Terrace" building on the next point.

This area has been designated for residential under WEDCO's 2020 plan but Planning has asked to convert the zoning to commerical/mixed use.

The application for final planning approval was submitted on November 6.

"The intent is to act with prudent swiftness to secure a commitment from a genuinely interested resort developer who expects to renovate the cottage as phase one for a June/July season opening," Harold Conyers of Conyers & Associates wrote on behalf of the developer and WEDCO.

"The intent of the developer is to create a boutique-style, all-suite resort with food and beverage service.

"The waterfront locations are chosen as they are a major draw for tourists and these properties were selected due to their internal use and configuration being 90 percent consistent with the developer's vision of their target market's needs."

The new hotel would take advantage of existing 6,261 square foot structures at the 61,420 square foot lot on Ireland's Island.

The property is right on the south coast where three buildings are located on three small points.

"Both structures were designed and built as multi-occupation residential buildings. To a large extent the existing military zoning is redundant as it is a potential detriment to attracting motivated parties who need to move at the speed of business in a world class competitive environment," Mr. Conyers wrote to Planning.