The sale of Sonesta Beach Hotel to American businessman Clifford Schorer is set to go ahead next month after Government yesterday gave him the go-ahead to transform the South Shore resort.

Mr. Schorer said he is "rarin' to go" with the purchase after receiving a special development order from Environment Minister Dennis Lister. This clears the way for him to seek final planning permission for major renovations of the hotel and to build town houses and condominiums on the property.

Mr. Schorer said in December he would go ahead with the purchase if granted the special development order and planning permissions.

The businessman from Boston has a ten year plan to completely renovate the hotel and grounds. The development order gives him planning permission in principle to build 42 two and three bedroom townhouses with garages; 16 two storey South Shore cottages; demolish two homes at Cross Bay and replace them with two luxury homes; open a new upmarket beachside restaurant at Cross Bay; and install two tennis courts and 27 extra guest units.

"I am very pleased and we are rarin' to go. We've been ready for a bit and the next step is the actual sale at the end of next month," he told VSB News. He said he expects to complete the purchase from Sonesta's reluctant owners Aetna Life Insurance next month. The future of the hotel has been unclear for about 12 years, since Aetna took over the property after foreclosing on a mortgage.

Mr. Schorer said he expects to spend $77 or $78 million dollars on the Southampton property over the next ten years, including the purchase price. He said he expected to spend between $25-28 million in the short-term - including the purchase - for renovations and the construction of the cottages.

Mr. Schorer has run the Bottom Line Exchange Company since 1984, which specialises in liquidating corporate assets.

He told The Royal Gazette last December: "We are clearly in recessionary times for tourism but this is a good time to take advantage of this marketplace and turn around a property that has a lot of potential."