The man hoping to buy the closed Lantana resort has admitted his plans are running slightly behind schedule, but he hopes to complete the deal by the end of the year.

Don Burkett told The Royal Gazette he is still "very, very excited" about developing the property as an upmarket health and spa resort with marina, but the process was taking longer than expected.

Mr. Burkett and his team from Pennsylvania-based Don Burkett Associates held a presentation in the Fairmont Hamilton Princess last week to bring potential investors up to date about opportunities to buy condominiums on the Sandys property.

Residents can buy condominiums at the site, but they must be leased-back to guests for part of the year.

Mr. Burkett said he already has planning approval in principle and backing from the Ministry of Tourism.

He originally said he hoped to complete the purchase from owner John Young by September but things have been moving slowly.

He told The Royal Gazette: "We are progressing and are still very, very excited about this although I can't go into any specifics about his because of a confidentiality agreement we have signed.

"We are a wee bit behind schedule, but that is not unusual. It is a development process, that's why they call it a process because it takes a long, long time, but there is nothing in the way here.

"We are still very, very enthusiastic and excited, and can't wait until we can introduce it to the public."

Lantana has been closed since 1998 and Mr. Burkett's team hope to re-open it as a world-class health, spa and conference cite, with a tennis club, golf academy, and 35 yacht marina.