The first 11 families for a developing East End neighbourhood will move into their new homes during the next six weeks.

The news came yesterday as the Bermuda Land Development Company received approval from the Development Applications Board for 33 additional lots at Westcott Road in St. George's.

BLDC spokesman Don Grearson explained that subdivision approval was necessary at the Southside site before the first 26 three-bedroom cottages there could be sold.

And of those 26 homes, 11 will be ready for occupancy around the end of October, he said.

"The first residents will be moving in over the next five to six weeks approximately.'' Mr. Grearson said. "We are well on our way to creating new neighbourhoods at Southside.'' The process to secure homes at Southside began in the summer when BLDC sent out information packs about the houses to some 460 people who had previously expressed interest in buying a home.

The recipients were told to make sure they could afford the homes and to seek pre-qualifications for mortgages from the Island's banks.

A draw was held last Monday for the first 26 available homes.

Thirty-five would-be homeowners turned up to compete for these properties and 19 were selected to buy homes.

The 35 bidders selected their first-choice home and in several cases more than one person bid for the same home, meaning the first person drawn was given the first right to purchase.

Those who lost out could bid for the other lots and the BLDC will be steering the remaining 16 people, still without homes, toward the lots that are still vacant.

Also yesterday, the DAB gave the go-ahead to the BLDC to create a single 1.8 acre lot at Westcott Road.

This will be used by the Bermuda Housing Trust to build housing for senior citizens who do not require any kind of supervision.