A special development order to pave the way for up to 250 tourism and residential units at the Fairmont Southampton will take effect when the Government is advised that “everything has been agreed and signed off”, MPs heard yesterday.

Vance Campbell, the Minister of the Cabinet Office, highlighted that the project was in the hands of private developers.

His remarks came in response to a question from Opposition leader Jarion Richardson about when the SDO was expected to be published in the Official Gazette.

Westend Properties Ltd, the owner of the Fairmont Southampton, has always said that renovating and reopening the 593-room hotel was its priority, after the property closed its doors in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It submitted a request last year for in-principle approval to add up to 159 tourism and 91 residential units in buildings of two to four storeys at the resort.

Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, announced in October — when he had responsibility for the planning department — his approval for the scheme, which was expected to be developed over about 20 years.

Mr Richardson asked Mr Campbell yesterday “when he will gazette the Fairmont Southampton special development order?”.

The Cabinet Office minister replied: “When all matters pertaining to the overarching transaction that governs the project have been completed, the SDO will be brought into force.”

Mr Richardson asked: “What are the matters outstanding that are required to be completed before the SDO is gazetted?”

Mr Campbell said: “Those matters are of a private nature — they don’t involve the Government — and when we are advised that everything has been agreed and signed off, we will bring the SDO into force.”

Asked who advised the Government on the completion of outstanding matters, he added: “That’s a private matter; it’s not a government project.

“When we are advised by the developers that everything has been completed, we will bring the SDO into force.”

Mr Richardson also posed questions to Kim Swan, the Junior Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

He asked: “Given the seminal role the Fairmont Southampton plays in Bermuda’s tourism product, will the junior minister please inform this Honourable House as to whether the Government is being updated on the property’s renovation and reopening, including matters of financing, construction and timelines? If so, how frequently?”

Mr Swan responded: “That’s a two-pronged question. The first half of that is, regularly.”

When asked for specifics, he added: “Yes, the second part of that question, the answer is, usually weekly updates are provided by the developer.”

Mr Richardson also asked if the junior minister would commit to providing regular updates on matters related to “financing, construction and timelines”.

Mr Swan replied: “While these matters are matters for the developer, as and when substantive updates are available, these will be shared with this Honourable House and the public.”

Mr Richardson said later: “Just for the purposes of clarity ... the Government is being updated on a weekly basis relating to matters of financing, construction and timelines, and we do not have a substantive update at this point regarding the project.”

He added: “Can the minister please confirm that as accurate?”

Mr Swan responded that “when the minister has information, we will provide it”.

A statement from Westend Properties in January said that ground had been broken at the Fairmont Southampton earlier that month and preliminary preparations were under way for refurbishments at the hotel itself.

The company said then that it was hoped the resort’s beach club would be ready to open next summer, while the hotel’s public areas and half its rooms were expected to be ready to welcome guests by the end of 2025.

Westend Properties said in April that work was “proceeding according to plan”.

It explained then: “Works to prepare for the planned renovations at the beach club and the employee housing site are ongoing.

“This critical preliminary step, including team and project mobilisation as well as demolition, must be completed before we can begin the broader construction initiatives.”

A statement from the company at the time reiterated that about 200 jobs “for local talent” would be created through the renovation of the hotel and beach club.

Questions were sent by The Royal Gazette yesterday to a spokeswoman for Westend Properties, as well as to Gencom, the Miami-based investment firm to which the company is affiliated, but there was no response by the time of publication.