THE FIRST PHASE of the multi-million-dollar Lakes Lifestyle Village in Mount Brevitor, St Peter, is scheduled to begin this week.

"We are to begin construction of 51 units that are considered to be Phase 1A," said Lynda Doherty, co-ordinator manager, Lakes Development Company.

"Construction will begin in the process of trenching on the water works and utilities and that would then lead into starting on the separate units."

First phase construction is expected to cost about $33 million. So far, 47 units of housing have been sold, most of them to Europeans who are looking for a quiet and relatively upscale lifestyle or for investment purposes.

Twelve Barbadians and a Trinidadian have also bought units, said Doherty, who attended the recent annual convention of the National Association of Barbados Organisations (NABO) in the United States.

The costs for each unit ranges from $596 000 to about $1 million.

"The entire village is being broken down into three phases and the entire project is due to be completed by the middle of 2011," Doherty said.

"The first unit is due to be ready by January 2006 and the entire 51 units should be ready by September 2006.

"It is going to be a continuous build-out so that as the first Phase 1A is finalised, Phase 1B will be flowing right in as well. The entire Phase 1 will be finished by the late 2007, going into 2008."

She said her presence at the NABO, where she made a presentation and talked to scores of Barbadians in the United States, was the first attempt at marketing the project to Barbadians in North America.

When completed, the Lakes would be spread over 180 acres, close to Mile-And-A-Quarter and two miles inland from Speighstown. It will comprise two- and three-bedroom villas as well as apartments, lakes and a range of luxury facilities, explained Doherty.