Wedco plans to turn the "gorgeous'' home of the Royal Navy's Commanding Officer into a guest villa.

And a "sports/spa facility,'' and commercial offices are among ideas for other parts of the soon-to-be-vacated Navy Base at Dockyard, West End Development Corporation development manager Mr. Ed Williams told The Royal Gazette .

Wedco, which is taking over HMS Malabar, has placed advertisements in The Royal Gazette calling for development proposals for The Cottage.

After a 200-year Royal Navy presence in Bermuda, Malabar officially closes on March 31.

Oddly named, The Cottage has 11 bedrooms and a spacious drawing room and dining room on either side of the main entrance hall. It also has a commercial-size kitchen with large refrigeration units.

Overlooking the Great Sound just east of Dockyard, the grounds of The Cottage take visitors over a little bridge to an indoor skittles alley where Prince Charles is among the guests to have signed his name on the wall.

Skittles is an English bowling game.

"It's gorgeous,'' Wedco development manager Mr. Ed Williams said of the one-acre site, which has a private dock and sheltered beach.

Already, strong interest has been expressed by local and overseas investors.

Mr. Williams said Wedco hoped to make a decision by the end of April and the new visitor villa could open for the 1996 visitor season.

While Wedco would make no "rash decisions'', the Malabar infrastructure was in such good shape that it was hoped development could occur more quickly than was expected at the closed US Naval Annex in Southampton and the US Naval Air Station at St. David's, which closes on September 1.

The Navy's furnishings are being removed from The Cottage and Malabar Commanding Officer Robin Bawtree and his family are moving out soon.

Wedco plans a long-term lease on the property, with the terms to be negotiated.

"We have a completely open mind,'' Mr. Williams said. "We don't profess to have a great deal of knowledge about the hospitality industry, so we're asking interested parties what they would be happy with.'' A smaller residence for the RN executive officer, called The Bungalow, will likely be rented out for use by a family, Mr. Williams said.

The main administration building and surrounding units could become "a sports/spa facility,'' he said.

A large playing field, tennis courts, and squash courts were among the facilities already in place.

The 13-unit Prince Alfred Terrace could also be part of a sports/spa facility or be rented out as apartments for the "high end'' of the residential market.

Wedco would also be looking at water-related businesses, like charter boat fishing, dive operations, and a sailing centre. And the Navy's deep water dock could accommodate a second cruise ship, Mr. Williams said.

"This is a natural progression for the Dockyard,'' he said. "We feel that to a large extent we have now become a destination.'' The retail shops were doing well and Wedco hoped to expand them further.

A recent Department of Tourism survey showed that Dockyard was Bermuda's leading sightseeing attraction. (See story below) NAVY LEGACY -- Wedco plans to convert the 11-bedroom mansion that was the residence of the Commanding Officer of HMS Malabar into a tourist villa. Wedco development manager Mr. Ed Williams (pictured) has called for proposals. The Royal Navy Base is set to close at the end of this month.