Above: a rendering of a villa at Freedom Bay

By the Caribbean Journal staff

What’s being billed as St Lucia’s first eco-resort has begun construction in the country’s Piton Management Area.

Freedom Bay will include a resort, three restaurants, a jetty bar, a rainforest spa and welllness centre and 12 private ressidences. The resort component of the project will be managed by Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.

It is projected to open in March 2015.

The government said it was in “continuous dialogue” with Malgretoute Hotel Development Company Ltd, the project’s developer, to ensure that “all progress is in line with legal guidelines.”

In a release, it said it would be limiting the impact on the environment to “protect and enhance the natural beauty of the area.”

“Freedom Bay is engaging with the community through its social responsibility and environmental protection programmes, hospitality training and job creation,” said Henrique Liette, spokesman and CEO of Freedom Bay. “We are also holding regular meetings in the local community and, as a result, have just constructed a stairway to allow safe public access to the Malgretoute Beach so locals can visit the beach more easily and safely.”

According to the company, the project’s design will include bio-climatic technologies such as solar, bio-fuel, geothermal cooling techniques and natural ventilation, among other sustainable initiatives.