Groundbreaking is expected to begin on the expansion of the Coco Reef Resort in Paget next month.

Plans were approved this May to transform the former Stonington Beach Hotel into a world-class resort with 34 new villa suites on the south east end of the hotel property near the tennis court.

Hotel director Andrea Jennings said yesterday the hotel expects to begin construction in December with completion of the luxury villa suites by the end of 2005.

Owner John Jefferis is expected to spend $10 million on the upgrades to the hotel. Government gave Mr. Jefferis, owner of the Coco Reef Resort in Tobago, a 50-year lease to operate and manage the hotel. The new suites are expected to take the number of beds at the hotel to 200.

According to plans, the units will start at the south end of the site where Bend Cliff cottage is located on land used for tourism running alongside land zoned as woodland reserve.

The villa development will consist of a series of linked buildings of varying heights each containing one dwelling unit. Units will be kept one to two storeys in height so they do not detract from the main building.

Cooper and Gardner are the architects.