the next hurdle in its path to becoming a reality.

The Development Applications Board granted Morgan's Harbour Investment Limited (MHIL) in principle planning approval to create a resort facility at the former Naval Annex in Southampton.

MHIL chief executive officer and Renaissance Resorts International Corporation managing director Rob Davies said: "We are delighted that our plan for Morgan's Harbour has received the endorsement and support of the Development Applications Board.

"It is a world-class development that will help to reposition Bermuda in the very competitive international tourism market place.'' British-based Renaissance Resorts won the bid to develop the 250-acre Morgan's Point in March.

The $250 million project includes a championship golf course, club house, 200-bed cottage colony and SpA with conference facilities, a mixed-use village centre, a marina, 318 residential units, housing for elderly people and three park areas.

Mr. Davies said MHIL had tried to provide the DAB with a complete and comprehensive plan.

"The DAB approval is the culmination of several months work by our team, led by our architect, Ian Gordon of Entasis.

"We wanted from the beginning to consult very widely and consider all viewpoints and our plan has been modified to reflect various comments made along the way.

"We have held over 25 public and interest group meetings and the excellent support we have had has borne fruit today.'' Over $3.5 million had been invested to date in the project, noted Mr. Davies.

Work so far has included environmental clean-up studies on the site plus detailed site and sea-bed surveys.

Full construction and engineering studies have also been completed and the golf course grading plans are now underway.

"We are keen to commence the environmental work on site as soon as possible, as this work is a pre-requisite to starting the golf course construction,'' said Mr. Davies.

Further permits are now needed for detailed planning approval and for demolition before work can begin on the site -- hopefully by the summer, he said.

Mr. Davies said: "I'm sure everyone shares our desire to see the start of construction as soon as possible, but for a project of the complexity of Morgan's Harbour, things are moving extremely fast and we remain very confident that with continuing support from the Bermuda Land Development Company and the Government, the industrial buildings on the Morgan's Point site will soon be a thing of the past.'' MILITARY MIL