Re-zone paves way for Bodden Town hotel
(CNS Business): A recent vote in the Legislative Assembly has paved the way for the development of a new resort in the Beach Bay area of Bodden Town. The project has been on the cards for a long time and the planning minister told his parliamentary colleagues, earlier this month that the current government picked up the talks with the developer that began under the previous UDP administration.
Kurt Tibbetts, who brought the government motion to rezone block 38E parcels 282 and 283 registered to J&J Bear Ltd, said there were no objections to the re-zoning which was the first step towards a potential new oceanfront resort in Bodden Town.
The minister said that if the development gets underway it would be a good thing for the district and the wider tourism product. Tibbetts said the Progressive government was keen to encourage the new resort, which will create employment and increase room stock.
The zone changed was welcomed by the members of the LA. Alva Suckoo and Anthony Eden, the government back-bench MLAs for Bodden Town, thanked the minister for bringing the motion because, they said, if the project went ahead there would be a lot of opportunities and development coming to the district as a result. Legislators unanimously approved the motion to rezone the two parcels, covering 48 acres, from low-density residential to hotel/tourism.
The planned resort has been in the discussion phase for many years and it is understood that the developer has plans for a high-end five-star hotel and resort development.
Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush offered his support to the government in the effort it was making to facilitate the development because, he said, it would not only enhance the tourism product but “bring in the right kind of upscale visitorâ€. Bush said he hoped that this would move forward so the developers could move faster.
Tibbetts said the developers behind the project, who have not yet made their plans public, had committed to using local labour and were also planning to develop a gazetted stretch of coastal road.
“Negotiations are continuing with the developer and they have said they are willing to construct the section of that road which will go through the property,†the minister added, explaining that government would be responsible for completing the rest of the road, which would link Beach Bay Road with Manse Road.
Tibbetts admitted that this stretch of road was not a major priority from any other perspective but it was worth doing to help cement the project.
Category: Construction, Local Business, Stay-over tourism, Tourism
