A waterside park is to get a major revamp, the City of Hamilton announced yesterday.

The work at Albuoy’s Point off Front Street will include improved lighting, new seats and better access to the harbourfront.

A spokeswoman for the city said: “With the vacating of the old Bank of Bermuda building by HSBC at Albuoy’s Point, the perfect opportunity has arisen for the City of Hamilton to carry out a revamp of the park. “The upgrades will include improved seating and shade, uplighting of the existing trees and revitalisation of the pedestrian areas for accessing the park as well as the waterfront.

A memorial to Second World War armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay, based in Bermuda, will also be relocated to a better position in the park.

The lightly armed ship left Bermuda in 1940 to escort a convoy to Britain and sacrificed itself in a battle against the powerful German cruiser Admiral Scheer to give the convoy time to scatter.

Only 65 of its 254-strong crew survived the engagement and its commanding officer, Captain Edward Fegen, who went down with his ship, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.

The spokeswoman said the city had worked with architectural firm Cooper Gardner on the project, which will also include moving Against da Tide, a sculpture by Bill Ming that stands near the entrance of the HSBC building to the new-look park.

The spokeswoman added: “HSBC has offered to donate the sculpture to the city if it can be suitably relocated.

“Upon planning approval, the city will issue further public updates about the start of the work and when it is estimated to be completed.”

Kendaree Burgess, the chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce, backed the plan.

She said: “Anything that improves lighting and security can only be seen as a positive.”

MND Properties submitted a planning application to transform the old Bank of Bermuda building into shops and offices last year.

The application proposed retention of the framework of the almost 50-year-old building and the construction of a new frontage.

The applicants said they hoped to begin work in April with a scheduled completion date of December 2020.

• UPDATE: this article has been amended to correct the spelling of the HMS Jervis Bay