The controversial Southlands resort is to be relocated to Morgan’s Point.

Government signed the official land transfer today with developers Southlands Ltd., but there was no timeline or costs given for the clean-up of the former US Naval Air Station.

What Premier Dr. Ewart Brown did say was that for each acre of the South Shore estate, owners Southlands Ltd. will receive two acres of brownfield site at Morgan’s Point - a 250-acre peninsula on the Sandys border.

“It has been agreed that an acre at Southlands is worth about two acres at Morgan’s Point,” said Dr. Brown.

“Therefore the swap of land amounts to 37 acres of Southlands for 80 acres at Morgan’s Point - that is the price for the preservation of an area the like of Southlands.”

The new development will entail two ‘boutique’ hotels of 450 rooms, a private residence club - most likely fractional ownership - of another 450 suites, a spa, a ‘marina shopping village’ and a “world-class” 18-hole golf course.

The Premier said it was “most likely” that the former Southlands estate in Warwick will now be turned into a national park. “That is the intention,” he told The Royal Gazette.

For the full story see tomorrow’s The Royal Gazette.