A proposal for the redevelopment of the derelict Admiralty House Ballroom has been chosen, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

The Ministry of Public Works confirmed yesterday that it received several expressions of interest to refurbish the Pembroke building after it called for proposals last December.

A public works spokesman added that the ministry recently whittled down the applications to one developer who was preparing to work out the specifics of the contract.

He said: “That party is now in the process of making preparations to provide details for the project delivery.

“Due to the nature and status of the property, it is anticipated that the project will involve a substantial amount of work and expenditure, and therefore the selected party is being given a reasonable amount of time to prepare the details.”

The spokesman added: “The ministry is pleased by the level of interest received considering the nature of the property, its location within a national park setting and the requirement for the expected use to be complimentary to the park system.

“The conservation team has provided guidelines for the property’s redevelopment and retention of its listing and historical and cultural status.”

The Pembroke landmark, which was used as a community centre, sits in a national park and comes with almost half an acre of land and an ancillary building.

There had been several calls in the past to help to preserve the ballroom for its cultural significance as one of the few desegregated areas in Bermuda before the protests of the 1950s.