COME February 2016, the flippie-chic Goldeneye property located in Oracabessa, St Mary, will have 26 more units added to its current inventory of 18 villas.

Hotelier Chris Blackwell, who also operates Strawberry Hill Hotel & Spa in Irish Town and The Caves in Negril, all under the Island Outpost brand, told the Jamaica Observer that the investment is US$9 million.

These new, whimsical, octogonal-shaped units are referred to by Blackwell as beach huts and will form part of a beach development and a cove. The kid-friendly area will have its own watering hole as well as a fish shack, he told the Business Observer.

The upscale Goldeneye property, which sits on 52 acres, has 18 villas (in inventory) including the Ian Fleming Villa (five bedrooms), eight beach and eight lagoon villas comprising 16 1-2 bedroom units.

“In keeping with our standards we are of course planning to do a sort of dry run,” said group general manager Ricardo Bowleg, who added that the increase in rooms was “the result of interest in the property and the increased demand for accommodations”.

Architect Ann Hodges, who specialises in restoration architecture and who famously restored Strawberry Hill post- Hurricane Gilbert into a boutique hotel and spa, is tasked with the creation of these haute huts.

Noted interior designer Marika Kessler will handle the design details including sourcing locally made furnishings and amenities.

— NMW