First steps for multi-million dollar Crane Resort project get underway
Friday April 15 2011 | 01:22 AM

The way has been significantly cleared for the investors behind the historic Crane Resort to get started on a new multi-million dollar residential resort near one of Barbados' best known fishing and recreational areas.

With the board of World Bank affiliate the International Finance Corporation having now approved a loan of US $40 million for Millennium Investments Limited, parent company of The Crane, heavy equipment has moved in and removed debris at the Whitehaven site overlooking Skeete's Bay, St. Philip.

The beach there has also been cleaned and Director of Marketing at The Crane Residential Resort, Joanna Robinson, said officials were now discussing the final details of how they would proceed with the construction of units at Whitehaven.

"We're still in the ideas stage. Nothing has moved ahead as yet. We've basically just cleared debris, cleaned up the beach at Skeete's Bay and evaluated the grounds and structure," she said.

Robinson said the necessary "estimates" for the project would be in hand "in about a month or two", as part of another critical step in undertaking the venture.

According to IFC information seen by Barbados TODAY, the overall loan, some of which that organisation indicated would be used to expand and improve The Crane, had been approved since June last year, but the agreement was signed in December and the funds "invested" about three months ago.

Plans submitted with the local application last year had said the Whitehaven project would be done bearing in the mind the sensitive nature of the environment in which construction would be taking place.

"The new development at Whitehaven will be low density and low rise, with single storey residential units and is planned on what is currently animal grazing land that was acquired on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis from the previous owner and which will impose only readily mitigable environmental impacts," the plan stated.

"These impacts will be reviewed by environmental and social impact assessment at an appropriate stage of the project development cycle, and management plans developed accordingly."

Also, with another historic St. Philip property, Sam Lord's Castle going up in flames last year, fire safety and prevention is to be an even greater focus at The Crane and also Whitehaven.

The financiers indicated this was something already in focus at The Crane and would be reinforced in a major way.

"All buildings have passed inspection by the Barbados Fire Service. However, in buildings accessible to the public, such as hotel accommodations and restaurants, IFC requires dual compliance with all local requirements and also with an internationally recognised fire safety standard," the institution said.

"An independent fire safety engineer will be engaged to advise a suitable international standard for these heavily-constructed buildings, and then to audit against this standard. If this review reveals the need for additional fire safety measures, then IFC and Crane shall agree an implementation schedule."

It explained too that the Whitehaven development "shall be designed for compliance with all local and an internationally recognised fire safety code".

"The company shall commission a suitably qualified fire safety specialist to prepare and present a fire safety master plan for the development, demonstrating this compliance," it stated.

Apart from Whitehaven, funds borrowed will be used "to support a project to complete construction of 62 apartments in two buildings, with supporting infrastructure, and develop a back-beach area".