The old Royal Naval Club has been levelled as part of the first phase of plans to restore a cluster of historic buildings at the entrance to Dockyard.

The structure, which was built in the early 1880s, was taken off the list of protected buildings in May by Michael Fahy, the Minister for Home Affairs.

The demolition work on the old “Fleet Club”, which served as an officers’ and then as a naval ratings’ club and canteen, was completed last week.

Now Seacrest Development Limited, a Bermudian-registered company, will embark on a major project to restore the three neighbouring listed buildings: the Bungalow, Star of India and Moresby House.

Joanna Cranfield, Wedco’s business development officer, told The Royal Gazette that the remaining three structures would be restored to the highest standards and used for short-term residential and holiday accommodation.

“By getting rid of one building we are going to save the three most important,” she added.

“The Bungalow, Star of India and Moresby House will be fully restored and people will begin to notice these improvements being made very soon. We hope to have made significant process within the next couple of months.

“It has been a fair period of time in the planning phase, but now that the necessary demolition work has been done we are ready to move forward.”