David Dodwell is planning a $20 million expansion of The Reefs which will see 21 time share tourist units, and a new spa and pool built on the South Shore site. The shadow Tourism Minister realised a 20-year dream in 2002 when he bought the plot of oceanfront land at adjoining Christian Bay from the late Conrad Engelhardt.

Now he has submitted plans for 21 fractional ownership two and three bedroom units, a club and fitness centre and pool for the owners, as well as a new kitchen in the main property, revamped house facilities and extension of the dining room. Mr. Dodwell said he has already spent a lot of money developing plans for the site, which will mean the new units complement the traditional Bermuda architecture of The Reefs.

He stressed the 21 units will be for tourist use to satisfy a demand from regular visitors to the award-winning colony to own a little bit of the property.

He said he had not yet decided on what fraction of the year each owner will get in their property or finalised details about renting them out as regular units when they are empty.

?This will take The Reefs to a new level it has not been to before. We?ve done pretty well before and this is taking it to a different level,? said Mr. Dodwell yesterday.

?It is good for the tourism product for Bermuda and it is about upgrading the overall product, which is something I have always preached about.?

If planning permission is given, he intends to begin work this winter to have the site ready by the spring of 2006.

?We wanted to try to take advantage of the land and add an additional product for The Reefs. About 50 percent of our guests are repeat visitors and for years they have been talking about buying a unit and I didn?t have the land to do it.?