Yard set for fresh new look

A new hotel development and a state-of-the-art entertainment complex are ideas under consideration for the old Victualling Yard in Dockyard.

The West End Development Corporation received nine proposals for the historic site from foreign and local developers after inviting entrepreneurs to produce plans on how to develop the site.

Now WEDCo bosses have whittled the field down to four with a final decision on which project to move forward with expected later this year.

WEDCo general manager, Andrew Dias, told the Bermuda Sun: “This has been a very encouraging process.

“Some of the ideas and designs have been really outside the box.

“There are two primary concepts. The first was a new hotel development incorporating all the existing structures.

“The second was an entertainment complex or centre with areas that can be used for art exhibits, shows and playing games.

“The real positive thing about the proposals is that that can increase the amount of people we attract to Dockyard for longer periods of the year.

“We have to do something unique and different. “It’s exciting and we are looking forward to the next stage.”

The Victualling Yard is made up of a large area that includes two old warehouses and an open square that was built at the beginning of the 19th century by the British military.

The site was the hub of operations when it was first built, housing essential supplies, but the buildings have been empty since the 1950s.

The proposals submitted to WEDCo had to incorporate the original historic structures in their designs. Mr Dias added: “We are still in the very early stages of this process.

“We are not saying that there will be a hotel or an entertainment centre built around the Victualling Yard.

“The next stage is for the four remaining developers to make a presentation to the board and then they will have to go through the required approval process to become a project.

“We hope that whatever route we take will benefit not just Dockyard, but the West End and Bermuda as a whole.

“And for those applicants that are not successful this is not the end of the road; we have alternative locations coming up that we are looking to develop.”