Parliamentarians will return to the House of Assembly today when legislation is expected to be tabled to enshrine government support for the Fairmont Southampton redevelopment.

The Fairmont Southampton Hotel Act 2022 is listed for tabling before MPs, but it may not be debated straight away.

It comes after a second preservation charity voiced concerns about a plan for residential units at the resort, which is owned by Miami-based investment firm Gencom through its subsidiary Westend Properties.

Kim Smith, the executive director of Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, said that the group was shown “conceptual drawings for expanded development” at the site in mid-2021.

She added: “That plan is for a three-fold increase in the number of residential units to be built over what was granted by Special Development Order in 2009, and would require a new or amended SDO to be granted by the Bermuda Government.

“The request will be to construct over 350 residential units on the site, in blocks ranging from two to five storeys high.”

She said Best saw no justification for such an expansion and added: “We cannot imagine a basis on which a threefold increase in the number of residential units could be supported”.

“We would like to see the detailed data that supports a claim that this development is beneficial to Bermuda in the long term.”

Gencom, when asked earlier this month, did not confirm whether plans had changed since they were discussed with environmental organisations almost a year ago.

The earlier SDO is still valid and gave planning permission in principle for 130 fractional tourism and residential units.

Read more here: https://www.royalgazette.com/tourism/news/article/20220422/legislation-on-government-support-for-hotel-development-due-to-be-tabled-today/

Live link to the House of Assembly Session: https://www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20220422/politics-live-fairmont-southampton-bill-to-be-tabled/